feeling small

My daddy loves the mountains. I do too. They're crazy huge (to the point where they almost feel fake) and beautiful all year round. Time seems to stop when you sit atop a mountain peak. There are no cars speeding by or bread in the oven or work nearby to busy yourself with. Just peace.
And when I have looked out from the deck of a boat in the middle of a sea, I feel terrified, but excited. I imagine myself alone in that vast expanse of nothing but water, and I think of how there's no way I could get help fast enough if I were stranded. My stomach kinda twists up, but I'm still grinning.
Why do I love that feeling? Why does anybody love such massive, majestic places? I think its because their ethereal quality takes us away from our homes and workplaces and yank our minds back into the perspective of the universe as a whole. For a glorious moment, we forget the stress and detail of our everyday lives and remember that that moment we are in is but a blink in our lifetime. And being reminded that we are extremely small is awe-inspiring, humbling, and even relieving. The voice inside you says life is good. There are always bigger things in life to consider and think about and enjoy.