When you look at a star, you're seeing the light that left it. The light has been traveling through space to reach your eyes at a finite speed of 300,000 km per second. The sunlight is 8 light-minutes away and the nearest star system 'Alpha Centauri' is 4.37 light-years away. Yes, we're seeing what they looked like 4.37 years ago.

The shining light was a collective effort from the past, its impact impossible to see in real time. The star burns, sends its light out into the void, and then far away someone like us looks up and is warmed by what they did long ago.

I think that's also the life of us crafters.

I can only start now, put something out into the world not knowing how long or if it will ever reach anyone and yet hope that it will be stumbled upon by someone, making them feel seen, changed, or less alone. Even if that won't happen in our lifetime.

Is it melancholic or comforting to you that something we created outlives us? For me it doesn't really matter at all if my light reaches anyone (of course I'm happy if it does), because the burning has already warmed me here and now.