Happy Holidays Upham Community,
I love talk radio. It could be sports talk, NPR, any podcast that speaks to the human experience. It is a ritual at the end of my day as I drive home. Recently I listen to a podcast with a retired astronaut, International Space Station Commander, test pilot, and colonel in the United States Air Force, Terry W. Verts.
Terry was asked, “When you are in space and looking down on the Earth… what was that like?” This is the point I wanted to share. Terry replied, “It’s amazing! Wow, looking down, I thought I am not on the planet any longer. It was a profound experience. It gave me a whole new perspective. Life is not as black and white as I believed. Keeping up with the Kardashian’s or mulling over the latest political tweet just did not matter. It made me think that we all have more in common than we have differences. Our struggle should be centered on our abilities and not our inabilities.”
I have thought about this lately. We are all struggling with our own existence and then we get heaped upon us this outrageous virus. The added weight leaves no room for the nuances of allowing acquaintances, friends, or family members the all-important, “assume best intentions”. We are very quick to jump to conclusions. I admit…I am guilty.
So, as we begin to slow down and take a little time away from Upham and spend some time with our immediate families let’s take a page out of Terry Verts’ book and gain some perspective.
Helen Keller said it this way, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
This is what Apollo 11 observed from the surface of the moon.
Do you see it? It is that small beautiful blue marble. Buzz Aldrin’s first words after he set foot on the Moon were “Beautiful view”, to which Armstrong asked “Isn’t that something? Magnificent sight out here.” Aldrin answered, “Magnificent desolation.”
Perspective…Upham community, please enjoy your little break from school. Find some time for yourself. Be grateful for what you have and for those around you. Enjoy some laughter. Tell those close to you that you love them. Maybe take a little time to go out one night and view all of the stars and wonder. We are all “one” on a very tiny beautiful blue marble.
Happy Holidays,
Dare to Dream,
Mr. Dees