In the distant past, Muslim doctors advised nervous people to look up at the sky. Forget the tight earth. Imagine that the sky, all of it, belonged to them alone. Crescent, low moon, more stars than the eyes looking up at them. But the sky was free, without any price, no one I knew spoke of it, no one competed for it. Instead, one by one those who could afford it began to sleep indoors in cool air-conditioned rooms, away from the mosquitoes and the flies...

Summary

This quote reflects on the tendency of people to be consumed by their own immediate concerns and distractions, eventually losing sight of the beauty and tranquility of nature. The writer emphasizes the advice given by Muslim doctors in the past, encouraging individuals to look up at the expansive sky as a means of calming their nerves and finding solace. However, with the advent of modern comforts like air-conditioned rooms, people have increasingly isolated themselves from the outside world, neglecting the free and untainted beauty of the sky and prioritizing temporary comforts over a deeper connection with nature.

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