Ad Astra per Aspera
There is a natural human tendency for us to want things to be easy.
“As in all other things, the myth of the Great American Desert is an asset of no mean proportion to the Kansas man. All of which serves to establish, in a way, the boast that what is a calamity for other countries is often a valuable asset for Kansas.”
When we moved to Kansas I started seeing the phrase “Ad Astra per Aspera” in lots of places - on billboards, in advertising, in restaurants, on event flyers and even programs for the Kansas City Symphony. I hadn’t heard the phrase before and had no idea what it meant. So I looked it up: “To the stars through hardship.” It’s the state motto of Kansas.
Apparently this is something Kansans take very seriously. It strikes me as a great motto for any state (or any individual for that matter). There is a natural human tendency for us to want things to be easy. This is true even though we know that we appreciate the things we work for more than the things we are given, and that we often start to value things only once we have lost them. Most parents try to teach their children the concept, but it’s a hard lesson to learn—even for adults.
What does any of this have to do with serenity? It’s one thing to find serenity when everything is stable and going smoothly. But finding serenity is just a little bit sweeter if you can find it when it’s not. It’s the same principal as Ad Astra Per Aspera. I love street photography, but the Coronavirus makes that a challenge. And like everyone else I have no idea how long it will last. So I head west towards the rural areas and smaller towns of Kansas not really knowing what I’ll find to photograph, but where I know the threat of infection is lower and there will be plenty of wide open breathing space.
And perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised but I also find some extra sweet serenity. I come home feeling that we’re all going to be okay.
