So Small
Last week I was mesmerized by the solar eclipse. We don’t live in the path of totality and I wasn’t even organized enough to purchase the proper eyewear for viewing. So I decided to do what a lot of people did that day… watch on television. I wasn’t expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised by how exciting it was to witness this historic event, even from my kitchen. It stopped me in my tracks for sure and it reminded me just how small we are in this vast universe.
You can definitely take a deep dive into facts about the universe on the internet. If you spend too much time on it, your head will explode. It that’s your thing, then go for it! If not, I will share a couple of things I learned from about five minutes of research that hits this point home.
Our planet is considered a very small planet in our solar system. 1300 Earths could theoretically fit inside Jupiter (way to brag Jupiter!!)
We (not me - really smart scientists) have only mapped out 5% of the universe- there is way more out there to discover!
There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth (What??)
Our universe is constantly expanding and getting bigger and bigger and bigger…
Please don’t get upset after reading these facts. It’s scary I know! And it’s one of those things that if you think about it for too long, you start to question everything. But I think that’s a good thing. My life has had twists and turns before, but nothing like what I have experienced over the past two years or so. Things that seemed so important before, now seem so insignificant. It’s probably a combination of life experiences and age that have brought me to this point, or maybe all of those inspirational clips on Instagram are finally sinking in. Whatever it is, I’m glad I am feeling this way. How, you may ask, am I feeling these days? I’m feeling like I know my purpose in this ever changing and ever growing universe, even if it’s just for today.
For the longest time I thought I needed to get a job, go back to school, or do something monumental to feel worthy and validated in this world. But today I am realizing that even though it seems small, my purpose here is very valuable. I have a lot of people counting on me to get them through the next few years unscathed. My kids are in very formative years and my dad is a bit lost and overwhelmed. Our dog is aging and my husband could not focus on his career if the household were to fall apart. Enter me… mom, daughter, wife… organizer, cook, counselor… I won’t go on (but I could!!)
There’s a Carrie Underwood song that sums up today’s blog. I’ll post a portion of the lyrics, but you really should listen to it. I challenge you not to cry. I know if I listen I will be crying, but along with those tears, I’ll try to let go of some of the big stuff that’s actually very small, and remember that some of the small stuff in life is absolutely and undoubtedly monumental.
It's so easy to get lost inside
A problem that seems so big at the time
It's like a river that's so wide it swallows you whole
While you're sittin' 'round thinking about what you can't change
And worrying about all the wrong things
Time's flying by, moving so fast
You better make it count 'cause you can't get it back
Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
Oh, and when you figure out love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small
-Carrie Underwood (So Small)
