Scale
Space […] is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist’s, but that’s just peanuts to space. (H2G2)
When contemplating the importance of something like career or personal legacy, I like to regain perspective by considering cosmic scale.
My mantra for such moments is: “what would the wise space baby make of all this?”
(Yes, I know he’s called the “star child”, but “wise space baby” is funnier to me).
This lovely eight-minute film does a nice job of visualising cosmic scale:
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About Robert Wringham
Robert Wringham is the editor of New Escapologist. He also writes books and articles. Read more at wringham.co.uk
Great film!
Carl Sagan’s “Pale Blue Dot” does much the same for me and I have recently bought framed a poster of it. It shows earth (as a pale blue semi-pixel) from 3.7 billion miles away. This image, shown together with some of his words, serves as a nice daily reminder to get over myself!
Alain de Botton also suggests that contemplating just how insignificant we are in the ‘grand scheme of things’ is somehow good for the soul, elevating us above our own little (but sometimes overwhelming) fears and obsessions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot
Thanks again for sharing this link.
Pale Blue Dot is lovely. Thanks for that. I’ll read the book.
AdB’s temple was designed to inspire awe.