The Astronaut Who Never Knew Space

A poem for you today about leaning in.

The astronaut who never knew space

The embrace of the cosmos, where stars dance,
I stood at the precipice, caught in a trance.
Galaxies beckoned with their shimmering light,
Promising wonders and unimaginable sight.

Training days long past, through rigorous pace,
Trials and tribulations I did face.
With precision, I suited, each buckle and lace,
Checked every instrument, set in its place.

Yet before that threshold, a chasm did lie,
Between what I knew and the boundless sky.
The weight of a past mission, the whispers of doom,
Echoes of astronauts, lost in space's vast room.

Others went forward, their courage ablaze,
Piercing the night with ships like bright rays.
Through envious haze, I watched them ascend,
While I, chained by fright, let opportunities end.

Time turned my hesitation into a wall,
Yet the stars, persistent, continued to call.
In the mirror's reflection, lines deep and clear,
Spoke of dreams unfulfilled, and costs of fear.

Now, in twilight's embrace, I ponder my days,
The vastness still calls, in its mysterious ways.
To have touched the unknown, and soared with grace,
Or remain the astronaut who never knew space.

---

I remember always hearing those stories about astronauts who dedicated their lives to going to space. Practically decades of learning, preparation, and training. It’s insane. What it must feel like to finally take flight after that!

Any individual has at one point asked themselves whether or not they were ready for some decision, or if the space mission they were taking was the right one. I’ve fumbled so many decisions, dabbled in so many business ventures and hobbies that I could write you a dissertation on not fully committing myself to something. I would spend endless days and nights browsing, ideating, learning, but not enough time building.

This fear manifests itself in many different forms for all of us, whether it be our careers, positioning in life, relationships, etc. Each year that passes I learn how unfulfilling lukewarm water is. About the best thing I can say for anyone who is fumbling with what their future holds: internalize deeply & lean in!

I guess what I’m saying is that I imagine delaying my dreams might feel like an astronaut who never knew space.

Wishing you and yours the best,

– Cullin