I look up at the moon and the stars and the sky and I feel small, so small.

I count my breaths and wonder how many I have left inside of me.

I dance around a raging bonfire and never think twice. Night after night after night, I dance.

I look up at the stars and think that no one else feels what I feel or thinks what I think. I contemplate that I am alone in my contemplation.

The stars gaze back and hold tight to their secrets.

We all think that we alone discovered the universe. That wonder and mystery and the stars know us, and only us, by name.

But if we brought our eyes down from the sky and looked around, we would realize we are all dancing around the same raging fire, night after night after night.

Together, we dance.

Written 1/1/17