6. A Shared Experience

Like many people across the world, I held my breath on Friday as our astronauts splashed down into the Pacific Ocean following their trip to the moon. I did not realize the tension in my body until I heard Commander Weisman’s voice confirm all 4 crew members were “green” – in the clear and healthy.

I started sobbing.

I watched the live stream on my phone with my three children in the other room, waiting to turn it on for them until we heard good news.

Because I was 7 years old, my daughter’s age, when I watched the twin towers fall on live tv. And I was 9 when I watched the Columbia burst into flames on live tv.

Watching such a significant event occur on Friday at 31 years old, experiencing the joy of good news and safety, with my family, with strangers all across the world, was the biggest exhale I have felt in years.

A shared experience is a beautiful thing. Every single person watching, no matter where they are, who they are, are attuned to the same emotions and situation. It is bonding and connecting. It reminds us that we are one and the same, united in our humanity.

All too often lately, our shared experiences have been heavy. Overwhelming. Traumatizing. Tragic. Talk to any Millennial, and we are not well. We haven’t been well since some of our core memories involved the panic over Y2K.

But the Artemis II mission and the Integrity splashdown reminded me that people crave shared experiences. We need points of connection, invisible strings that tie us to one another. It’s why we value art, history, family heirlooms. Concerts, reality tv, interactive art exhibits. We want to feel connected to each other.

I just finished Still Life by Sarah Winman and found this quote to be so poignant:
“Art versus humanity is not the question, Ulysses. One doesn’t exist without the other. Art is the antidote. Is that enough to make it important? Well yes, I think it is.”

I think, in this busy, chaotic life, it is easy to feel alone, to isolate, to feel misunderstood. What we need are more shared experiences. Maybe not space missions all the time (though that was a high I’ll be riding for a while), but finding commonality with each other. Joining a community with shared interests. Going to an art museum. Starting a new hobby with friends. Going to the movies. Joining a book club. Listening to a podcast. Creating a Saturday pop-up market in your house! Talking about anything you care about with another person who also cares!

Let’s chase the magic that we’re feeling right now. And share the joy we feel. You were made for community and for laughter and brightness. It’s high time we start living in that.

A Shared Experience