I love to learn about science. I was never very good at it back in school, so I sometimes feel like I have missed out on a lot. But between documentaries, Wikipedia, and a couple of smart scientist friends (I’m looking at you, Boyd and Treena!) I’m able to get a pretty good dose of science when I’m feeling inclined and curious.

I love to learn about how the world works, and ultimately, of course, that’s what science is. I was thinking the other day how much we take for granted all the things that science affords us – from the food we put on our plates, to the technology being used to type this post – none of it would be possible without the laws of nature. It’s kind of cool when you consider it that way, eh?

Then, I was struck by another realization. Have you ever stopped to consider that, everything we have in our world -everything ever invented, born, created, thought, or built – has been created from things that exist on our planet? Working with only the tools we have on this Earth, we have built the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids, flown to space and back, and cured Polio.

It’s pretty amazing when you think about it. We have access to everything we need to accomplish anything right here, on this planet.

Yet, in spite of having everything we need at our disposal, we still spend so much time wishing we understood things better, knew as much as other people, and that things would be so much better if only we knew how to [insert desired skill here].

Sure, there are limitations – lots of them. Lack of money and lack of time are two of the biggest obstacles people cite as the reasons they can’t do what they want to or need to do. Indeed, these can seem like insurmountable challenges. But of course they are not. Lack of money and lack of time are perceptions. Lots of people who have no money do amazing things all the time. And plenty of people who are incredibly busy often make us wonder if they have more than 24 hours in their day, for all of the things they are able to accomplish.

Lack of anything is merely a perception, which means that lack of anything can be overcome with enough time, motivation, and, most importantly, I think – enough information. It’s like a puzzle; the solution is always there.

The trick is, we just haven’t yet found all the pieces we need to solve the puzzle. And the problem is, so many of us are operating from a place of lack – “I can’t do this because I don’t know how.”, “Mr. Guru Guy knows so much more than me, I’ll never measure up.”,  “I’m not a techie.” I hear these excuses on an almost daily basis.

But the truth is, we have been given a place to live that, although sometimes horribly unkind, contains every piece of information, every bit of actual stuff that we need to succeed in whatever we set our minds to.

We have the ability to search for, and experiment with, any part of this world. We can use our curiosity, our passion, and our brains to invent, re-invent, create, and mold and shape our experience. We have the ability to choose to make the time and find the money to bring the things we imagine into reality. It’s our planet, and we are lucky enough to get to play with it.

So, if the world has already provided you with everything you need – what are you waiting for?

Go find the pieces you need.