Beyond the mystifying and luminescent hue of the night, deep within the depths of an ever expanding universe, resides a plethora of objects that have fascinated humans for eons. Beaming, radiant, and boundless, these shards of scattered diamonds have inspired myths and legends that live far beyond the civilizations that create them. They have but a simple name, a small epithet that enraptures so many, a minuscule title known as stars.

As one stares mystified by the gleaming tranquility afforded to us by such lights, reality creeps into the mind of the observer. Stars are merely cosmic balls of flaming gas and pulsing fire. What more shall we see them as? What expectations should we thus place upon them to fulfill? One’s thoughts then turn to people – if taken at such surface level, how are we any different from the stars? People are merely a myriad of beings that reside upon the earth, just as stars are merely objects in the sky. No less and no more. From where do we thus derive such awe-inspiring tales? From whom shall we seek such radiance, often bereft in a world such as ours?

The answer lies not in the out reaches of a frigid and swirling galaxy, but the perspective in which we see it, and essence, ourselves. I was once informed that “each person is extremely smart in one area but dumb as a rock in others.” If we, as human beings, were to perceive with such an adage in mind, inspiration and derision of thought would never cease to be espoused, no matter the place, person, or object looked upon. It would mean placing some kind of value and depth into each fleeting moment of time while expanding personal visage to include all that had been previously overlooked. Stars would cease to be mere placeholders of violent and explosive storms and transcend into things of beauty/wisdom that teach humanity mores long lost and forgotten. Souls trapped within the mortal confines of flesh and given the title of human would no longer just be a number lost and covered in a twenty-second expose subconsciously entitled, “People Who Are None of My Concern”. They would become jewels set within our dark worlds of cynicism and singularity that illuminate even the deepest abysses of the heart.

Such a lesson would indicate a theory that a satirical world attempts to deny – each person, no matter what race, gender, age, or ethnicity has value and stories to impart. Not one being can be devalued or cast aside as being less than what they are – a person of worth and fountain of untapped courage, resolve, and resilience. No matter what name, number, or statistic a world impresses upon them to deafen these tales, such a voice that speaks, can be, and will be, heard if only one chooses to listen. Much like the stars, it is impossible to put out the light of a person who shines so brightly.

So shine on my friends, shine on.

- Sarah