Pathfinder

Reblogged from paintedfronts

paintedfronts:

Astrophysicist Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson was asked by a reader of TIME magazine, “What is the most astounding fact you can share with us about the Universe?” This is his answer.

The truth is that we are connected to each other, to the Earth, and to the Universe around us. Ancient Philosophy taught us to reason this is true, Alchemy showed us the chemical connections that bring us together, Spirituality made us feel the forces that unite us, and Astronomy showed us the grand scope of those connections.

These four sciences, governing knowledge of the mind, body, soul, and heart respectively, are as important to our lives as the Fundamental Forces themselves. That is what truly unifies us.

Thank you Mr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, for all your inspiring work, thank you to educators of all subjects, and thank you to all the explorers that went before; whether they were scientists, sailors, conquerors, alchemists, or philosophers, all have fanned the flame of knowledge to push back the darkness of ignorance.

Never before have I felt so ashamed to have scraped by in my classes, especially Physics, and so moved by the words spoken; though I realize now I have long known those words as fact. I just hope that one day I might be able to stand at the shoulders of such giants of Exploration such as Mr. Tyson and be able to contribute something to our human lives, and to the universe as a whole.

Though the earth has been mapped, the stars have been charted, the seas have been…well, ok, we still don’t know what’s going on there. Yet still, there are new discoveries made each day, expanding our horizons and letting us glimpse into the vast reaches of space around us.

I want to go into space one day. I want to see the stars, to stand on the surfaces of alien worlds, to colonize worlds for humanity, to see with my own eyes what awaits us out there. Though some might say those will not be possible in my lifetime, I will never stop exploring, dreaming, reaching out to a new day.

The future is a bright one, my friends. Let’s all grasp it together.