“There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on each of the Earth’s beaches.”

This was my last “fun fact” of the week. You see, every week one team member takes a turn to lead a daily 15 minute check-in huddle to get a high level overview of what everyone’s day looks like, and whether everyone has what they need to move the day’s work forward. The huddle always ended with a “fun fact,” and this particular one resonated deeply with the team.

As folks praised the fun fact, I reminded them that we live on a tiny planet in a vast universe – so take it easy, be kind to yourself, and have a great weekend.

It has been a long and exhausting work week. Within this chaos, there’s something comforting about knowing how vast the universe is. It’s a humble reminder that no matter what our problems are, we are tiny specs in the grand scheme of things. With or without us – the universe will continue to function gracefully, whistling to its own tune.

Knowing that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand is a reminder that we are not the sum of our perceived problems, accomplishments, or goals. This weight of the world that we carry on our shoulders at times is unnecessary because all around us, flowers continue to bloom, grass continues to grow, and birds continue to chirp. Things change every day, gradually and incrementally. Whether visible to the naked eye or not, nature’s divine laws continue to function, and tides continue to turn.

So the next time you take yourself too seriously, remember this: you live in a universe whose stars outnumber grains of sand on each of Earth’s beaches. You have been gifted this life to make a contribution in the time that you have, in a universe that is vast, whole, and functions as a finely-tuned machine. This machine uses all its parts – each piece is meant to contribute to the grand vision and ensure that this elegant machine keeps running.

This Universe – akin to a loving, doting mother who has wrapped her all-encompassing metaphorical arms around us – has given us a home and asks us to trust Her – for she will take care of us as she takes care of all Her stars. Give yourself to Her and watch Her majestically nurture you, nudge you, and work through you.

Trust Her, for she knows her children.

Trust Her process, for She knows what She’s doing.