Girl on the bridge--MC
Earth has no clue we are celebrating it today. Earth also has no stake in whether it is hospitable or hostile to us. It is for us to try an attain a measure of equilibrium with this enchanting and mesmerizing planet so that all sentient life can thrive for as long as Earth will allow it.
NASA’s planet hunter Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is in the process of setting itself up for what is going to be the most comprehensive survey of 85% our sky to search for Earth-like planets. TESS will examine 200,000 stars for two years in the largest exoplanet search mission of its kind. There are reasonable expectations that TESS will find thousands of exoplanets, many of which could be similar to Earth.
But while that search goes on we ought to be mindful that we are already on one arrestingly beautiful planet whose bounties never cease to amaze us. Even if we do find a comparable exoplanet, there is no next to no chance of our reaching there physically in the foreseeable future. Even if we do advance technologically to a level where interstellar travel becomes a viable option with humans, it will never be more than a handful of people who would get to go there.
For the vast majority of us Earth is our only option. And what a gift it is! My recommendation would be to make the most of what we have right here. By all means, celebrate Earth as long as you know that Earth does not really care if we mess it up. It will do what is natural to the system, including wipe us out.
Now a bit about the painting. Although it was not done with Earth in mind, it strikes me that it captures the sheer wonder of looking Earth from a vantage point. The effect I have tried to achieve is the girl looking down from a bridge at a hint of Earth.