[030] I’ll never forget the night I tried to count the stars…
I’d never been so eager for the sun to set at Scout camp. That night, our astronomy instructor had us frame a piece of sky with our fingers and try to count the stars. As I stared, more and more came into view—too many to count in that tiny frame. Then he said: “There are billions of stars in that space if you had a powerful telescope.” It was a transcendent moment that’s sustained me for decades. Now in my third act, I understand why awe isn’t just a pleasant experience—it’s essential armor against cynicism, a bridge back to meaning, and a reminder of the incomprehensible privilege of being alive.