ArstroWeekly: Marks of Existence

In a recent Malbec-fueled essay on @astrodaily1 on Instagram, I wrote about what marks I want to leave on the canvas of existence. I discussed legacy and the ease with which humans get tangled in webs of hopelessness when it comes to leaving a lasting impact on our surroundings. A swallowing of our goals, passions, desires and accomplishments into the vacant enormity of cosmic space and time seems inevitable. I’ve been looking for points of light shining through this nihilistic backdrop.

One potentially comforting thought on this topic is that our existence does not necessarily end when our lives do. As Isaac Asimov eloquently stated, “…when one dies, the memory lives on in another, and is warm and breathing.” Additionally, as far as we know, it is impossible to change the past. So once we create something in this universe, it cannot be retracted. This is a thought that I think is not only uplifting, but existentially vital. It emphasizes the importance of paying close attention to the actions you take and the words you say, because once they manifest, they become indestructible components of the universe (whatever “the universe” is). But hold up. Why am I approaching this question as one that is fundamentally separate from my actual experience? Why am I focusing on the external effects of my actions, when perhaps the present-moment inner experience of myself and others is what really matters?

I came across a quote in the 1891 novel “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” that provided a refreshing perspective on these questions. It reads, “The measure of your life depends not on your external displacement but your subjective experience. If I am happy, and those that I love are happy, can that be enough? Because if so, excellent.” One of the main points I extract from this passage is that, whether we recognize it or not, we all have a legacy. Our mere existence makes it impossible not to do so. Perhaps we should all focus less on our “external displacement” and pay more attention to the subjective details that give life glory and meaning. Cross your T’s, dot your I’s, love your family and friends and love yourself.