The Grand Scale - a.k.a. Bigger Picture

This month is full of milestones - America’s 250th, Arlington’s 150th, and my own 60th birthday next week.

All of it reminded me of something I used to do as a kid. Back then, when I wrote my address, I sometimes didn’t stop at the street or the city.

I kept going, zooming out layer by layer, until I had placed myself in the entire universe.

It looked like this:

Ricky Kazyaka

3##### Kenneth Court

Sterling Heights

Michigan

Zip Code 48077

United States

North America

Earth

Solar System

Milky Way

Universe

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was giving myself a sense of scale - a reminder that even though I lived on a quiet street in Michigan, I was part of something much bigger.

And now, with all these anniversaries lining up, that old habit feels just as meaningful. It’s a good reminder of where we come from, where we are, and how far we’ve traveled.

See les