WHAT WORLD IN THE UNIVERSE WOULD BE BETTER?

So far, cosmology has shown us that this is the only place in all of space which is assuredly hospitable to life. Even the hoped-for Goldilocks planets are extrapolations from measurements - we can't observe them; we can't reach them. There's no guarantee life as we understand it can survive with the gravitational forces and other variables they enjoy. When we colonize Mars, Titan, or Europa, people will live out their days inside a tiny cage at best. They won't look out upon oceans, forests, fields, mountains, tangible grandeur which they can fish, hike, reap, climb.

Our company is titled "Wellness" for a reason. We aren't a gym or fitness studio. We do some of those things as well, since wellness includes physical capability and an effort at athleticism. Without the right mindset, however, a person isn't practicing wellness. We must put life in perspective. Mental health and psychological welfare are connected to physical stewardship. They must also be cultivated with proper philosophical reflection.

I'm not saying that life is fair. It isn't. But also, in comparison to what precisely? The storms, weather, climate and atmospheres of other planets aren't exactly humane. The mass of most things we can point to with telescopes would crush us or tear us apart before our spaceship entered its atmosphere... if it even has an atmosphere... or surface.

Despite the ravages of this world, this little pocket of the universe is just about the only place we can manage to exist for more than a few seconds. There are inequitable and unfair institutions and systems of oppression on Earth. I agree. But try Mercury out for a few breaths and compare to some of the worst situations on Earth that you imagine.

Voltaire’s “Candide” poked fun at the philosophical concept that life works out for the best. I enjoy the book. I own it. I absolutely shake my head when I hear eternal optimistic sentiments. BUT, I acknowledge that there is another equally foolish perspective: unwavering negative ungratefulness and thanklessness.

Everywhere else in the universe, life is crushed and blotted out before it can get a toehold. Here, we can more than exist. We can create beauty, art, society. We can thrive, even in the worst of our possible circumstances. Don’t take it for granted. We won’t always have it. We’re lucky we currently do.