When Life Feels Dim, Look Up

Did you notice the recent astronomical moment involving Jupiter, Earth, and the Sun yesterday, 10 Jan 2026?

While although it isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime event, it is special to me. This alignment, known as Jupiter at opposition, happens roughly once every 13 months, when Earth sits between Jupiter and the Sun, allowing Jupiter to appear especially bright and clear in our night sky.

Since relocating, I’ve found myself looking up to the skies more often. Away from heavy light pollution, the night sky reveals a quiet beauty I rarely ever had a chance before. Stars shimmering, the vastness of the universe stretching far beyond our daily concerns. There’s something both mysterious and deeply grounding about it.

My phone camera doesn’t quite capture what my eyes saw, and perhaps it never will. Some moments are simply meant to be lived, not documented...fleeting, yet memorable.

I still remember my first encounter with the Milky Way back in 2011, high up in the mountains of Kalimantan. I stood there in awe, reminded of how small we are, and yet how connected we can feel in the presence of something greater.

And that’s really the point I wanted to share:

When life feels a little dim, look up.

Whether it’s day or night, clear skies or even rain, there’s something quietly therapeutic about pausing and noticing the world above us.

May the vast canvas of the sky remind us of hope, perspective, and light - sometimes exactly when we need it most.