The earth, our home, is approximately 4.5 billion years old. Only six million years ago humans emerged and evolved to walk upright, build tools, and develop ideas and technology to become the humans we are today. Around 98 billion people have walked the earth in these six million years. Of these, 565 have travelled in space. 562 people reached Earth’s orbit, 3 completed a sub-orbital flight, 24 traveled beyond low Earth’s orbit and 12 walked on the Moon. The crew of Apollo 8 were the first to leave Earth's orbit and pass behind the far side of the Moon.

We are living in very interesting times. Quite a statement, or understatement, yet, when have we NOT lived in interesting times? Our history continually places us in interesting, complex and even chaotic times. One thing that I have noticed, is that the stories we tell ourselves and each other have a direct bearing on our ability to interpret historical times, but most importantly, on our level of engagement, understanding, and behaviour in our own present time.