The Pulse of the Distance

I was standing on my balcony this evening, just watching the neighbors’ windows light up one by one. It is funny how a city can feel so crowded and yet so incredibly lonely at the same time. You look at those glowing squares and you know there are lives happening inside—dinners being cooked, arguments being had, quiet moments of relief after a long day—but you are just a ghost on the outside looking in. We spend so much of our lives wanting to be part of the hum, wanting to be tucked into the fabric of something bigger than our own small rooms. There is a strange comfort in knowing that even when we feel isolated, we are all part of the same vast, breathing machine. We are all just lights in the dark, trying to find our place in the grid. Does the city feel like a home to you, or does it feel like a stage you are just watching from the wings?

Chris Horner has captured this feeling perfectly in his image titled I Want to Be a Part of It. It reminds me that even the busiest places have a quiet, steady heartbeat if you look at them long enough. Does this view make you feel small, or does it make you feel connected?