Is being alive rare?

According to the internet, the probability of your existing is 1 in 10^2,685,000. For those of you unfamiliar with scientific notation, that second number is a 10 followed by almost 2.7 million zeros. Here is what 1,000 zeros looks like: Imagine that number of zeros…

themortalatheist.com - What are the odds of being alive? - The Mortal Atheist

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Here is what 1,000 zeros looks like:

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Imagine that number of zeros… 2,685 times over.

1 in 10^2,685,000.

For scale, the number of atoms in the entire universe is only 10^80. Why is your existence so improbable? Well, it required the unbroken stretch of survival and reproduction of all your ancestors, reaching back 4 billion years to single-celled organisms. It required your parents meeting and reproducing to create your singular set of genes (the odds of that alone are 1 in 400 quadrillion).

1 in 10^2,685,000.

…

To contrast, the odds of you dying are 1 in 1.

Dying is nothing special – that reality is corroborated by math.

But your being alive is nearly impossible. That probability is the same as if you handed out 2 million dice, each die with one trillion sides… then rolled those 2 million dice and had them all land on 439,505,270,846. Again, I can’t stress this enough, the odds of dying are 1 in 1. (Not even 1 in 2). Dying is totally ordinary. It’s so ordinary it’s assured. Dying is the most natural, completely average thing you can do. In contrast, being alive is so stupendously unlikely it’s almost impossible. It’s supranatural. The odds are so breathtakingly close to zero they almost are zero. If that’s not a call to live with an exhilarating, exploding gratitude, I don’t know what is.

Live your life like the remarkable, incredible rareness that it is.

Do it because you are the lucky stardust of the universe that got to wake up and look around.

Lucky you.

Lucky me.

Lucky dust.

Reference:

https://www.sciencealert.com/what-is-the-likelihood-that-you-exist

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By 15, most girls have developed breasts and have pubic hair, have reached their adult height, and had their first menstrual period. Your daughter may be concerned about the size and shape of their body and weight. Nearly half of all high school girls diet. Sometimes this concern can lead to eating disorders.

webmd.com - Your Daughter at 15: Milestones - Parenting - WebMD

They can be super; sweet and super moody, all in the same half-hour. And they're on their phone 24/7. Sound like your 15-year-old daughter? Even though they may think they’re all grown up, girls this age still need plenty of guidance. The more you know about what to expect, the more you can help. A 15-year-old is an adolescent -- no longer a child, but not yet an adult either. There are lots of physical changes, but it’s also a time of big intellectual, social, and emotional development. While it can vary from girl to girl, there are common milestones to look for. Physical By 15, most girls have developed breasts and have pubic hair, have reached their adult height, and had their first menstrual period. Your daughter may be concerned about the size and shape of their body and weight. Nearly half of all high school girls diet. Sometimes this concern can lead to eating disorders. If you think this may be a problem for your daughter, talk to their doctor. Intellectual When children are young, they only think about what’s going on at the moment. But by age 15, a girl can think in more complex ways about what’s possible and how the world works. Expect your 15-year-old to: Start to set goals for the future

Plan for “what if” situations

Make more of their own decisions

Understand the effects of their behavior They will start to develop a sense of right and wrong and use it to make decisions. But sometimes they will act without a lot of thought. Your daughter will get better at organizing themselves. Many girls this age do a good job as they juggle school, activities, and work.

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