During my travels around the world, I found inspiration from unexpected encounters that I'd like to share with you. Sometimes you have to go (far) away to get closer. This time: ' A better world by being a temporary astronaut’.
Years ago, I was at the WOMAD festival in Malmesbury, UK, where the album Big Blue Ball featuring artist Peter Gabriel was being presented. The idea behind it is that we see the Earth as a big blue ball when we look at it from a distance. Just like astronauts see and experience it. Because when you step back, you become aware of what you didn't see before. For many of them, it's an unforgettable life experience that makes a deep impression and brings them back with a new awareness to live and work differently. Just look.
Do you know that feeling? Imagine traveling for a while to a different place, country, and culture. Suddenly, you see that people there do things 'differently' than 'at home'. Like I once experienced in Sweden, where people waited patiently for each other in the queue at a gas station. Or in England, where people give each other right-of-way instead of taking the right-of-way. That's different from what I'd become accustomed to in the busy Netherlands, where many people push and shove to avoid losing a second.
That distance made me more aware of the urgent behavior I no longer wanted to engage in upon returning to the Netherlands. This shows how travel and distance can expand your consciousness, help you learn differently, and transform your life or work, both small and large. So, traveling offers a different, natural way of learning.
"When you distance yourself, you become aware of what you didn't see before."
But what would happen if you zoomed out even further from the place o what you often call home? And then very far away? Imagine yourself as an astronaut for a moment and saw the Earth from a distance. Like William Shatner (Captain Kirk from Start Trek) did after he had made a real, short space flight. It deeply touched his heart and soul, bringing him to tears, as he "felt" the pain we inflict on the Earth, and indeed, on ourselves. The pain felt intensifies the desire to change from within.
To this day, he still says about it, deeply moved: "What a beautiful blue/green planet we all live on; I see no boundaries; the Earth and we are so incredibly vulnerable with such a thin layer of atmosphere and limited nutrients."
William was so deeply moved by the boundless consciousness that upon returning to Earth, he wanted to do much more for the healthy development of the Earth, not least for ourselves as human beings.
"The pain he felt strengthens the desire to change from within."
On Earth, we are all 'allowed' to live, where we are only temporary guests. How do we behave as guests? How do you do that when you visit someone for real? Why not do the same on Earth: with respect?
Many other astronauts share similar, lived insights. One of them is the fact that from above, there are no borders visible on Earth, only nature. They also wonder why we humans argue and wage war so much when there's enough for everyone. Universal rights are awakened by these distances. While some are more committed to a healthy Earth, others want to contribute to equal rights. This global awareness (also called "spirit" in my books) is also seen in leaders and organizations, who are focusing more on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and making them increasingly part of their policies or even their missions. What would happen if leaders were astronauts for a while?
And what would happen if "you yourself," like an astronaut, zoomed out and returned to Earth anew? What would you do differently that would contribute to a better world, no matter how small?
"Zoom out to zoom in new again"
Thank you for zooming out with me for a moment, hopefully zooming in again. And thus contributing even more to a better world.
Martin
© 2025: Martin Thoolen
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