I had the pleasure of hearing Canadian astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield speak this week.
There are so many nuggets of wisdom that have been rolling around in my brain formulating themselves into this article.
Even though it was fun and surreal to hear about his crazy adventures up in space, and being the first Canadian to walk in it, those stories weren’t the most inspiring parts of the talk.
I decided to focus on the two most poignant (for me) parts of his presentation.
1. Make ART
I cried when he spoke about connecting with 700,000 children all over Canada to sing, in real time, a song he wrote called, “Is Somebody Singing” with Barenaked Ladies lead Ed Robertson. To note – he was still aboard the International Space Station when he did this.
Despite all the AMAZING things he has done, seen, and accomplished he said, “That will probably echo more than anything else I’ve done in my entire life.”
The man has been to space – 3 times. And yet that is where he feels he’ll leave his mark, have his impact.
I love that this legendary Canadian realizes that how he really connects with other human beings is through his music. He reminded us that the most common way we communicate is through art.
Science and Art don’t know the other exists. They’re not at odds. They are one and the same.
(Side note: On Facebook yesterday I say a collection of Petri dishes that were growing bacterial cultures and structured in such a way that they replicated Van Gogh’s famous, “Starry Night.” Google that one friends!)
Art and science.
His emphasis on the importance of nurturing small and big minds alike to make art moved me. Whatever your medium is – whether it’s putting words together forming a choreography of language, or applying colour to a canvas creating visual poetry – that’s how you connect with others.
(Or it’s colouring between – or not! – the lines of someone else’s art. Colouring is my new favorite old thing. I get to complete the story that someone else started. It’s meditative, relaxing, stress reducing, and healing. Here are some of my latest story conclusions:)
And it doesn’t need to be a “creative” art. I think there is art in how a mother comforts her crying child, or how a stranger will help someone in need. Your art might be in how your smile lights up a room. Maybe it’s your laugh – snorts and all. Your art is being the best hugger. Your art could be in the kitchen preparing delicious, healthy meals for the people you love.
Art is how we communicate.
Art is being in the present moment. I believe suppression of art creates platform for disease.
I also believe expressing art is medicine.
Go make art today.
2. Create YOUR OWN definition of Perfection
The 2nd major take home for me was how he talked about deciding and working towards YOUR own personal definition of perfection.
As a young boy, Chris watched the news and saw a man land on the moon. He knew then he wanted to go into space. At the time there were no Canadian astronauts. There was no Canadian Space Agency. Just a boy with a dream. And that dream did not die, because for the next 25 years, every day, every little (or big) decision he made allowed him to forge his path to reach those goals.
He set his trajectory. All systems go.
It didn’t happen over night, but with enough consistency, and enough dedication – keeping those ideas of perfection (for him) front and centre – he got there.
He said, “To me, that’s what life is about. Don’t belittle little decisions in your life. They are your life.” (Tweet it!)
And he asked us, “Where are you going to be in 25 year if you keep on the path you’re on?”
Think about that for a moment.
Are you going to be where you want to be? If not, how can you course correct to make that a reality? What do you need to change, learn, or reschedule to be on that path of personal perfection? Who do you need to connect with to get the skills required? Conversely, to whom do you have to say good bye?
Health is the same.
Consistent daily choices add up over time to big results.
Pick a direction. Walk it.
The next day? Keep walking.
The day after that? More of the same.
There will be a million obstacles.
Course correct as you need to but keep your why front and centre.
Eventually you’ll get there – you’ll do your version of the space walk.
To your healthy, thriving, delightful life,
PS: An adorable little girl asked him if it is possible to eat ice cream in space. And after initially telling the audience no, because freezers are too heavy for spaceships and blah blah blah, he told this wonderful story that proved that YES! You can eat ice cream in space. With my luck transporting ice cream and car trouble, it’s not something I’d be willing to risk. 😉
PPS: I also liked that when he said, “In addition to preparing mentally and psychologically for space…” he put his hand on his chest over his heart. He didn’t point to his head, his brain box. Nope. He put his hand over his heart. Where the wisdom is. That made me smile.
