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By Kelsey English
The more that I have come to know, the more I realize that I know absolutely nothing. Through every experience, I become increasingly aware of new and unknown aspects of life, which exist both tangibly and just above my realm of understanding. This magnificent place, surrounded by nothing but water, mangroves, and laughing hyenas is a destination of peace that I could have lived my entire life without knowing existed; yet I am here experiencing the serenity that makes this place so special. There are so many aspects of the world that we can never truly be aware of everything, and I think it is both rejuvenating and empowering to realize the potentiality of coming to know these unknown treasures of the world.
From being lost within the eloquent flow of French and listening to Schaef attempting to describe the 11th dimension, I have been adequately confused in the best possible way. It is so easy to be lost in the midst of confusion, but I have decided to allow that confusion free me to the immensity of the world; bringing about the realization that my sense of understanding is a small perspective in comparison to the vastness of what is possible to understand. I’ve thought a lot about how reality is understood in layers; each increasing in depth and complexity as knowing grows. I’ve thought a lot about how important it is to be able to recognize that no matter how much you know, the world always offers more. It is truly humbling to realize how the vastness of the world is so immense that it is incomprehensible, yet it still offers so much possibility.
This idea came to me after a far from typical night swimming experience. As we swam below the star speckled sky, glistening bioluminescence illuminated the water around us. As the bacteria in the water transformed to fallen stars in the water, the horizon expanded endlessly. The sky melted into the sea, becoming one immense unit, and we were among it. Fighting the current, we linked arms and floated on our backs, gazing up in hopes of catching a glimpse of a shooting star together. Never have I seen so many.
I don’t think it is possible to completely capture the essence of that moment with words. With linked arms, we floated together and observed something much bigger than ourselves; something that we can never completely understand. Although none of us have a complete understanding of the immensity of the galaxy and our place within it, we all shared a fascination for what we cannot completely understand. It was a beautiful and necessary reminder that we are so small, just wandering amongst a sea of stars.
6 responses to “There’s Always More”
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Kelsey, thank you for your willingness to give so much of your experience. I felt from your words that you are both fully in the experience while also working really hard take it beyond the singulars moments. As much as you are taking from Senegal, you will give much more, as these moments infect you and those with whom you share the depth of the connection between you, the water and the starry sky. I find myself surround by the hills, steams, and sky of my childhood today. I’m inspired to share it fully with my kids, building the layers that will make their lives a bit more colorful and linked with mine and so many others.
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Oh Kelsey! Adults spend years figuring this out and you get it. Your depth and insight was absolutely inspiring.
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Night swimming under falling stars while linking arms with friends? And bioluminescence? Wow. It’s possible to have amazing life experiences and still miss them because we are not fully paying attention. But you are clearly paying attention, Kelsey. Your post challenges me to stay open to the wonder, the confusion, the amazement. Good stuff.
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Great job! Made me go outside and spend some time reflecting on those same stars.
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This reminds me of the beautiful description of Simon’s death in Goulding’s famous book Lord of the Flies. One of my favorite passages of all the books I’ve read.
“The water rose farther and dressed Simon’s coarse hair with brightness. The line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculptured marble. Softly, surrounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright creatures, itself a silver shape beneath the steadfast constellations, Simon’s dead body moved out toward the open sea.”
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“That was dark, but I liked it.” —Jack
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