(Inspired by Tom Chi’s Speech)
In the vast tapestry of existence, it’s easy to feel small—like one speck in an ever-expanding universe. But what if I told you that everything about us, from the beat of our hearts to the breath in our lungs and even the ideas in our minds, is deeply connected to the cosmos? Not metaphorically, but literally. This isn’t just an idea rooted in spirituality but a truth grounded in science.
Let’s explore the incredible ways in which our lives are intertwined with the universe through three profound stories: the heart, the breath, and the mind.
The Story of the Heart: Stardust in Our Veins
Every time your heart beats, it carries oxygen to your cells, thanks to a molecule called hemoglobin. At the core of hemoglobin lies heme B, and at the heart of heme B is an atom of iron.
Where did this iron come from? Certainly not from Earth itself. The universe began with only hydrogen and helium. Iron, along with heavier elements, was forged in the violent explosions of massive stars known as supernovas. These stars lived, burned, and exploded, scattering their iron-rich remains across the cosmos.
But the journey doesn’t end there. This iron could only reach us because of galactic collisions, where entire galaxies smashed into each other, igniting star formation on an epic scale. These collisions are part of a gravitational dance orchestrated by Laniakea, the vast supercluster of 100,000 galaxies to which our Milky Way belongs.
When you feel your heart beating, remember: it’s powered by elements forged in the core of ancient stars, brought together through cosmic processes billions of years in the making.
The Story of the Breath: Oxygen and the Great Transformation
Take a deep breath. Feel the oxygen nourishing your body. Now imagine a time, 3 billion years ago, when Earth’s atmosphere had almost no oxygen. Back then, it was a suffocating mix of nitrogen and carbon dioxide—inhospitable to complex life.
Enter the cyanobacteria, tiny organisms with a revolutionary skill: photosynthesis. Over billions of years, these microorganisms transformed carbon dioxide into oxygen, slowly saturating the seas, the rocks, and eventually the atmosphere.
Around 600 million years ago, this oxygen gave rise to a protective ozone layer, shielding Earth from harmful UV radiation. Only then could life explode into its complex, multicellular forms—plants, animals, and eventually us.
Even today, the descendants of cyanobacteria live on as chloroplasts in plants. Every breath you take is mirrored by a plant’s breath, creating a cycle of life that connects all living beings.
The next time you exhale, think of this: your breath is part of a 3-billion-year legacy of transformation, driven by organisms too small to see but whose impact shaped the world.
The Story of the Mind: Expanding the Palette of Being
The human mind is a marvel of evolution, capable of creativity, empathy, and invention. But our thoughts and abilities are deeply tied to the tools and experiences that precede us.
Consider the piano, a symbol of human creativity. Invented around 1700, it unlocked entirely new patterns of thought and artistry. Before its invention, no human brain contained the neural patterns necessary to master this instrument. Its creation required centuries of mechanical innovation, musical theory, and craftsmanship.
This phenomenon is part of what I call the Palette of Being. Each generation inherits a palette of skills, ideas, and tools, enabling them to create unique “paintings” in the form of inventions, art, and ways of living. With every new invention or idea, we expand this palette for future generations.
The mind is not just a recipient of past knowledge but a creator of possibilities that shape humanity’s future.
The Cosmic Perspective: Why Our Connection Matters
Science and spirituality converge on one profound truth: we are all connected. From the iron in our blood forged in dying stars to the oxygen in our lungs created by ancient bacteria, to the tools and ideas we share, everything we are is a result of countless interactions across time and space.
But this interconnectedness isn’t just a fact to admire—it’s a call to action. Understanding how deeply tied we are to one another and the universe compels us to live with greater awareness, empathy, and responsibility.
If cyanobacteria, with their simple existence, could transform the planet, imagine what we, with our consciousness and creativity, can achieve. Let’s use our connection to build societies that honor life, expand knowledge, and create a more harmonious world.
Living from the Truth of Connection
The universe isn’t a separate entity we exist within. It is a web of interactions, and we are its integral threads.
Every beat of your heart, every breath you take, every idea you share ripples through this web, shaping the future.
So, the next time you wonder about your place in the cosmos, remember: you are not just in the universe—you are of it.
