Part 6/16:
A defining moment for Garrett was gazing at Earth through a small window on the space shuttle’s mid-deck. He describes how, after meditating briefly, he opened his eyes and was overwhelmed by the planet’s beauty—its blues and greens—yet felt underwhelmed due to high expectations. The so-called overview effect, a psychological shift experienced by astronauts who see Earth from space, emphasizes our shared humanity and the artificial boundaries of nations and civilizations. Garrett reflects that recognizing this before his journey perhaps diminished the suddenness of the realization upon viewing Earth firsthand.