Ants on a Planet

[Andrew]

Has anyone ever imagined themselves sitting on another planet and looking down at Earth? When I am feeling pretty bad it seems to put things back in perspective. I think of all the people running around the size of ants, living and dying in a meaningless cycle. All of their problems are ultimately completely insignificant.

A car runs into another car and people die. It is so important and serious at the ground level, but up in the stars it is just like watching a colony of ants in a seemingly chaotic state. Every day, thousands of us die of some kind of cause. Someone is concerned about the spots on their skin and doesn't want to leave the house. It is such a big deal on Earth, but up there it is almost comedic.

I think it is good to put things in perspective. It helps to focus on the bigger picture.

 

[NormanBates]

That's a good mental diversion. I'll think about it while having an episode.

I used to like sitting on the jetties at night in Corpus Christi watching the cars go by in a smooth pattern-like fashion. It's interesting how a picture can morph at the right distance.

 

[flyawayhome]

i've read it somewhere
thx for reminding me.. ;-)

 

[Kamen]

Right. I am not the only one in this. I think about it many times. Not sitting on a planet, but floating in the space.
What I see are millions of small creatures doing something according to a schedule they've made up, they create their problems and then solve them, which seems stupid, needless, sometimes laughable, but most importantly insignificant in the universe. And there is no need to care about it. It just happens. The problems of humanity come from the humanity itself.
Maybe it's just the game God plays with Himself.

 

[hippiechild]

Haha this is a good idea. Though, you should be careful not to think that way too often. At least, I've found it to eventually become a bit of a de-motivator

It reminds me of how free I felt when I was deeply depressed. When you don't care about anything..well, you don't care about anything. It's hard to feel anxiety when you really don't care what happens

Do a backflip off my friends car? What's the worst thing that can happen? I die lol!
Is there a guy following me at night? Yes? What's he going to do, kill me? Bring it on

 

[Ashiene]

What I see is the human virus spreading its scum across the surface of the planet, defiling Nature's gardens, the toxic fumes of its industry choking the air which they breathe, darkening the skies with poison, blotting out the Sun, as they subject themselves to meaningless lives to fulfill the wants of their Government, then retreat into the glass and steel skyscrapers at night to indulge in delusions of grandeur.

 

[Slothrop]

What I see is the [bad stuff].

All of that is there too, but it's just as meaningless. Focusing exclusively on the bad is no better than focusing exclusively on the good, as both waste the amazing human capacity to create your own sense of meaning, purpose, and happiness; to paint a bright point on a bleak landscape.

 

[Thelema]

And from a far away enough perspective, the entire Universe must look a like a night light. Size doesn't mean importance, at one time, the entire Universe was the size of a proton (or whatever the size it was)

 

[hartbrokenvirgo]

what i do now is i keep reminding myself tht there are people out there with way worst problems than me. so when im all depressed about being shy and not able to be comfotable around people, i think there are others out there who cant even speak or hear, there a deaf people who cant talk even if they tried. and im worried about fitting in and saying the right thing? i try to be thankful and thank god for my health,for all ten fingers on my hands, for both legs i walk with,for the air i breathe and for my sanity,...it could be a lot worst

 

[Kamen]

Thelema, it is supposed that you cannot observe the Universe from a perspective because there is no such a point, since space-time is only in the Universe.

 

[Andrew]

Haha this is a good idea. Though, you should be careful not to think that way too often. At least, I've found it to eventually become a bit of a de-motivator

It reminds me of how free I felt when I was deeply depressed. When you don't care about anything..well, you don't care about anything. It's hard to feel anxiety when you really don't care what happens

Do a backflip off my friends car? What's the worst thing that can happen? I die lol!
Is there a guy following me at night? Yes? What's he going to do, kill me? Bring it on

The thing I get out of it the most is that it removes any kind of self-importance I may have. Oh no I look stupid in front of a bunch of people. That doesn't seem like such a big deal with you look at the bigger picture. It also makes me want to get as much out of life as possible. I guess it is like seeing life as a big playground in which to explore rather than some kind of high and mighty all important environment.

 

[Moonie]

Your post reminds me of DMB's "Ants Marching"

Sometimes I think along these lines. I like to remind myself that most of the trivial things I worry about are not going to matter when I am dead. And most of my 'big' problems are really not bad at all compared to what other people are going through. So, I shouldn't stress myself, and instead feel fortunate for the good in my life.

 

[Thelema]

Thelema, it is supposed that you cannot observe the Universe from a perspective because there is no such a point, since space-time is only in the Universe.

I'll prove you wrong by flying my space ship out far enough that the universe looks like a ball of dust and you'll see....Don't expect me to do it anytime soon, tho

 

[scatterbrain]

Another cool perspective shifter is to just look as us at matter, like a rock or a stick. We're just matter that knows what's happening to itself. That's pretty tragic, actuallly.