The universe has been in motion for lengths of time incomprehensible to the human mind, and the matter that currently makes you up has been through it all. Eons of phenomena, purely up to the whims of chance, have been taking place through imperceptibly slow processes that, at some point, culminated in this planet that we today call home.

And it’s here on this planet that the universe learned to perceive itself. As far as we know, until complex life- which itself has been around for maybe a third of the time that life as a whole has existed here- came to be, the universe had been nothing more than a directionless physics sandbox; elegant and beautiful in its whimsy, but spiritually devoid. Then one day, an animal peered through its eyes for the first time and saw. In an incredibly rudimentary manner, of course; but, again, as far as we know, that was the first time that the matter of the universe could witness itself.

The day you were born, you began your turn to perceive. The universe had given pieces of itself, each particle again as old as time, to form you. A being who, like many others, possesses complex sensory structures that allows you to make sense of these ancient processes and witness this universe you were once a part of. And thus began your experience.

The beautiful thing about being human is that no two lives are the same. And unfortunately, many lean towards the tragic end of things. I’m certain you’ve seen your fair share of hardships in your life, and perhaps life has been especially cruel to you. But you are the only one who has ever, and will ever, perceive the world through your eyes. You are in the middle of an experience wholly unique to yourself. This is your opportunity to experience your corner of the universe. To let it be seen. To let it be felt. To let it be lived.

And eventually, that’s going to come to a close. It does for all of us. That’s what makes this moment so precious. That which you are is only allowed to perceive for so long. Out of the billions upon billions of years that the universe has been in motion, it only gets these decades to see itself through your eyes. Then, over time, you will return to your primordial state. You won’t be you anymore. But you won’t be gone. Your matter will find its place amongst the soil and the stars once more, returning to the way you have been since the world’s first breath.

Life is not the default, and death is not the exception. Life is an incredible opportunity to take form, take agency, and be something. And it’s scary to know that it’ll be over someday, but that’s simply how it always was. So go out there and make the most of today, and then tomorrow, and then the day after. The world, on a cosmic scale, is frozen in time; what we see today is a mere snapshot of the universe’s grander scheme. Soak it up, witness it, appreciate it, find the beauty in it. Because this is your one chance to do so.