Sometimes you can feel very small in the world.
Recently, NASA released the first images from its James Webb Space Telescope, the largest optical telescope in space and a piece of equipment capable of seeing things in the universe too old, distant and faint for the Hubble Space Telescope.
The photos returned from Webb showcase high-res images of thousands of galaxies in the universe, and even those only show a speck of what is out there.
“Webb’s image is approximately the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length, a tiny sliver of the vast universe,” NASA wrote. “The combined mass of this galaxy cluster acts as a gravitational lens, magnifying more distant galaxies, including some seen when the universe was less than a billion years old … This image shows the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 as it appeared 4.6 billion years ago, with many more galaxies in front of and behind the cluster. Much more about this cluster will be revealed as researchers begin digging into Webb’s data.”
Seeing those images reminded me of “Star Trek.” Looking at them, I immediately heard the voice of William Shatner, saying “Space: The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its 5-year mission: To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”
I’ve never been much of a Trekkie but my dad was a huge fan of the original TV series and movies, so I was forced to sit through many of the films and television episodes when I was a kid, which later helped me to develop a love for the rebooted “Star Trek” trilogy from J.J. Abrams. I couldn’t help but be excited at all the potential alien species living in just that small grain of the universe. I can only imagine how excited my dad would have been with the Webb photos and the prospects of what is out there.
The thought of all that unexplored space is exciting but it also felt overwhelming looking at it. With all of those stars, galaxies and planets, going on for what seems like forever, it can make you start to feel insignificant in the universe. How could I be having any kind of impact on the greater purpose of this place?
I try not to think too much about it. Just like death, it is one of those topics that seems too big for me to wrap my head around and then I start spiraling in a world of panic and anxiety.
That’s why I was so happy that we were able to feature Peer Support Space in this current issue. I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Yasmin Flasterstein, Dandelion Hill and Andres Acosta, the team behind Peer Support Space’s new venture of opening the first mental health respite in Central Florida and the first of its kind to be focused on the LGBTQ and other marginalized communities. Respite, as Flasterstein says in the story, literally means to take “a break from hardship,” and that’s what they are helping people to do. They are giving them a chance to step away from the chaos and anxiety in their lives for a few days. Lord knows with the way the country and the world are going, we could all use that.
Along similar lines, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline had its number shortened in the U.S. on July 16. The hotline’s original 10-digit phone number has been shortened to the three-digit code 988 (in the vein of 911), to make it easier for people to remember in the case of a mental health emergency. Anyone can call or text the number and, in most cases, will be connected to a trained mental health professional at a local or regional crisis center. If local centers cannot connect to a counselor, national backup centers will pick up the call.
However you choose to approach your mental health, know that there are resources out there for you and that with all the unexplored space out there you are still valued and important.
In this issue, along with exploring the history of Peer Support Space and looking at its upcoming respite, we take a look at what LGBTQ-themed shows are coming to the sixth annual Tampa Fringe Festival. We also chat with Central Florida actor-singer Kevin Kelly, who will help to kick off the Winter Park Playhouse’s 20th anniversary season with the hit show “Murder For Two.”
In Central Florida news, we sit down with the new artistic director for the Orlando Gay Chorus, Harold Wrights, and look at the senseless killing of a member of Daytona Beach’s LGBTQ community.
In Tampa Bay news, the Zubrick Magic Theatre in St. Petersburg celebrates its first year being open and a bevy of Gulf Coast mayors, both past and present, endorse Eunic Ortiz for state senate.
