"Si deseas hacer una tarta de manzana desde cero primero debes inventar el universo"

Creating an apple pie from scratch isn’t as simple as it sounds. Think about it—really think about it. If you’re starting from absolute zero, you need more than just the ingredients and a recipe. You need everything that makes those ingredients possible. Let's dig into this.

At its core, this quote is saying that the interconnectedness of everything is mind-boggling. An apple pie requires apples, of course, but to get apples, you need apple trees. For apple trees, you need soil, water, sunlight, and the right climate. To get soil, you need the Earth, and the Earth itself is a product of the universe. So, to truly make something “from scratch,” you’d need to go back to the very beginning. It’s a poetic way of acknowledging the complexity and wonder of creation.

This idea can be traced back to physicist Carl Sagan, who was brilliant at making us see the world in a new light. He had this knack for connecting everyday things to vast, cosmic ideas. This particular quote plays on the idea that all things, no matter how mundane, are connected to the grand scale of the universe.

Now, let’s get practical. Imagine you’re a baker tasked with making an apple pie for a local fair. You buy your apples, flour, sugar, and butter at the grocery store. But wait—think about the journey of each of those items. The apples came from an orchard that took years to cultivate. The flour? That’s from wheat, which was grown, harvested, milled. Sugar comes from sugarcane or beets, both of which require specific climates to grow. Butter starts with a cow, which needs grass, which needs soil and rain, and so on. It’s a complex web of dependencies that all start way back at the creation of the universe.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your life? Start by appreciating the complexity behind everyday things. Take a moment to think about the origins of the stuff you use daily. It’s not just mindfulness; it’s a way to foster gratitude and wonder. Next time you cook, remind yourself of the chain of events that brought those ingredients to your kitchen. It’s humbling and kind of magical.

Think of a relatable story. Picture a young girl named Anna, who dreams of becoming a chef. She decides to make her first apple pie. As she gathers her ingredients, her grandmother tells her about the apple orchard they visited years ago. She explains how the flour they’re using comes from wheat fields miles away, tended by farmers who wake up at dawn. The sugar was processed in a factory, where workers and machines toil to refine it. Anna starts to see her pie as more than just a dessert—it’s a product of countless lives and natural wonders coming together.

The next time you’re in a coffee shop, tell your friend about this. Imagine saying, “Hey, ever thought about how making an apple pie is like creating the universe?” You’re not just baking; you’re tapping into something much bigger.

So, keep that in mind. Every small action is a link in a vast chain. Appreciate the universe’s complexity and your part in it. It’s a beautiful way to see the world—one apple pie at a time.