Who am I? I am stardust. …Who am I? This question used to make me nervous. It is such a captivating query. It is an idea rarely consciously considered but arguably the most important, healthy concept for a human being to contemplate. The question proposes other daunting questions we’ve all heard and discarded before our brains exploded: “What is the meaning of life?” “Is there a God?” “What is God?” “Is my existence significant in this expanding abyss called the Universe?” The inquiries can feel intimidating in a world that tells us we’re on the right track if we do our homework and get a job and have a family. My liberating personal discovery is that my existence as a member of this planet is not something from which to feel small and irrelevant. It is the most beautiful phenomenon, my interconnectedness with every thing and every one, every atom. I wish I knew when this realization began, what exactly sparked it, and that I was able to trace its development. I know that it is the result of a sensitive, emotional core, the early exposure to many other countries and cultures, and consistent contact with the natural world, encouraged as long as I can remember. I have been given, like every other being, a mind, body and spirit. With a newfound and growing passion for personal independence and purpose, I have found that this mind body and spirit are the source of all strength we possess. What I do, my purpose in life, is to enrich in all those areas; to become a person that the universe wants on board, so as to give back, to return the favor of those resources. So, constantly creating new meaningful relationships and connections, opening up networks, sustaining my healthy body, challenging my mind and questioning the status quo, and literally “saving the planet” via my passion for the environment are all ways I apply this philosophy. My consciousness of being deeply interconnected doesn’t mean I am always “pristine.” I accept that my intense emotions—at both ends of the scale, and everything in between, are all consequences of this magnificently complex system that I have been given to experiment with, to change and reshape and improve and grow. They are a dynamic entity and should be treated that way. And, one day, I will be one very accomplished fleck of stardust.
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