I have been fortunate to see an incredibly pristine area of our pale blue dot. This place was Antarctica. In summary, it is sensitive, awe-inspiring, gorgeous, evolving, and determined to survive. These same characteristics are also found within you.

When I look back to my journaling from my Antarctic trip, this is the one takeaway I would like to share.

Whatever senses you observe the world in, attempt to identify with what you are experiencing. Have you once done what the external forces have done to you? Meditate on these interactions and changes because everything around you has a life. It was brought into creation, serves a purpose, hopefully is utilized to its maximum, and then eventually perishes in some material way.

The great Marcus Aurelius said in a meditation:

Is someone afraid of change? Well, what can ever come to be without change? Or what is dearer or closer to the nature of the Whole than change? Can you yourself take your bath, if the wood that heats it is not changed? Can you be fed, unless what you eat changes? Can any other of the benefits of life be achieved without change? Do you not see then that for you to be changed is equal, and equally necessary to the nature of the Whole?

Not all are fortunate enough to visit exotic places like Antarctica, but I believe this form of observation is a healthy practice and can be done anywhere you find yourself.

How can you be like what you are witnessing? How is it like you?

I find a great peace within this practice and hope you can too.