Perspective

Yesterday I was freaking out about a lot of things. This protein won't precipitate, my phone is broken, I have a cold. I left lab later than I wanted to and was angry. I biked out into a snowstorm in the dark and was NOT happy.

But as I was biking I began to realize how beautiful the world is. I've been reading The Varieties of Scientific Experience by Carl Sagan. Carl Sagan was arguably one of the best scientists and philosophers of our time and in this book he outlines his unique perspective as an astrophysicist contemplating God and death.

What he says overarchingly is this-- the world we live on is amazing, but is nothing compared to the cosmic perspective of the rest of the universe. Our place in the cosmos is quite small and the entire Earth and all who inhabit it and have ever inhabited it are just a 'pale blue dot' as he outlines in one famous speech below.

After this revelation I came home happy, refreshed and not caring about the little things that stress me out, but instead in awe of the great wonder that surrounds us.

And then I had some hot tea and hot soup and all was well :)