The BBC News site had an article written to commemorate the arrival of the 7 billionth person born on planet Earth. It managed to calculate based on birthday, where on the spectrum people fall. According to this site I, for example, was the 2,651,060,189th person alive on Earth and the 75,933,287,956th person to have lived since history began.
When Jordan was born, he was the 4,854, 320, 840th person alive on Earth and the 79,672,451,250th person to have lived since history began.
These are, of course, educated guesses, but it is fun to contemplate. As I spent this past summer looking for my roots, this is another piece of the planetary puzzle. I wonder who was the 2, 651, 060, 188th person born? What kind of life does this person lead, where do they live, do they surf the internet and watch TV on their computer? I do not know why this amuses me, but it does. It gives me a number, a specific place in the population spectrum of the world. It also makes me wonder about how many people are born, how few make a difference on the world stage and how important it is just to be important to those around you.
It also makes you realize that most of those 75 billion plus people who have graced this planet have not had it nearly as good as I. Most of them live in simple housing, most without clean water or a constant food supply or access to top medical care. As I get upset about my efficiency apartment living space, I realize most of those 75 billion plus dream about a live such as I enjoy, if they could even imagine it.
Yes, it is too early to be thinking about New Year’s Resolutions, but it is time to think about fortune and being thankful for what you have.
It is also time to be asking yourself if you are doing as much as you can with the gifts you have both been given and those you have worked hard for. Have I lived up to my potential, have I done enough for others, have I earned my place among the 75, 933, 287, 955 others who have lived on this third planet from Sol?
OK, so maybe it is not too early to get those 2012 resolutions in order after all!
0 comments:
Post a Comment