Counting the Cost

A French astronaut [really!] was recently interviewed on NPR in the wake of findings suggesting that extended tours of duty in space may predispose one to brain damage, including loss of hearing, loss of sight and early dementia. 

The interviewer asked how these new findings might impact the decision of the astronaut to continue preparation for an extended space mission planned for the near future. 

Acknowledging the new findings, the astronaut said that, nonetheless, he would gladly accept the risks, and he had obviously given the question a great deal of consideration.   He explained that the cardiovascular system of earthlings is geared to force blood to the brain against the force of gravity and that space travelers, having no need to overcome such force, experience symptoms of excess pressure in the brain.  But he felt that these are reasonably tolerated and reasonably managed, particularly in well-conditioned astronauts. 

Perhaps more to the point, he indicated there is no guarantee that one would not experience losses of hearing, sight, and dementia with age simply vegetating on terra firma.  And how could one live with oneself – in any case – having missed the incomparable opportunity to have pushed the frontiers of human experience to new heights!

The astronaut’s response underscored the fact that regret is a poor companion, and the cost of NOT doing something – even of high risk – may be greater than the cost of actually doing it.   

Life is going to COST something. 

And a richly fulfilled life is full of sacrifices as well as rewards. 

Count the costs well – both the costs of DOING and the costs of NOT doing. 

In the end, if you’re an astronaut, you do whatever astronauts do – and keep doing until you can’t do any more. 

Take away a person’s reason for living and his soul dies.  Feed the soul today.  Go out and risk something.  Your very life may depend on it!   Quartermaster