You don’t need to visit the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City to appreciate structure. Next time you’re at a local library or an old train station, look up. Notice the arches, the light, the way the floor feels under your feet. The Washington Union Station has a ceiling that makes you feel like a tiny, blessed speck. So does the ceiling in your neighborhood diner. Trust me.
The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur have a skybridge that connects them—and it’s terrifying and beautiful. It’s like holding hands with your best friend high above the city. That’s what these buildings do: they connect us—to each other, to history, to the silly, brilliant act of making something that lasts.
A Friendly Challenge
So next time you’re scrolling through your phone, pause on a photo of the Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Imagine it being swallowed by jungle roots. It’s peaceful chaos. Then, glance out your window. See that old brick building with the ivy? It’s a little cathedral. The world is full of these beautiful structures. Some are famous, and some are just your neighbor’s porch with a perfect sunset behind it.
Care about them because they’re ours. They’re proof that humanity can be clumsy, creative, and deeply lovable. And if that’s not worth a second look, I don’t know what is. Now go take a walk. Look up. And don’t forget to dodge the pigeons.
