Is the floor moving, or is that just me?
You’ve heard it before. I’ll say it again.
Everything can change in an instant.
I’m walking back from my new favorite cafe where I spent the morning working on “computer stuff”.
Since I generally fast in the mornings now, by noon I am beelining to my apartment in Mexico City for the delicious fruits I know are on my counter. On the way, I receive several texts from my neighbors, letting me know that there would be an earthquake simulation at precisely 12:19pm.
Meaning what, exactly?
Meaning I am supposed to evacuate whatever building I’m in and go to a predetermined meeting point where everyone can stand around and Instagram while they wait for the signal that the simulation is over.
This is all new to me. I’ve never lived anywhere with earthquakes before.
It’s 12:19 and I’m still walking home. I meander through the crowds of people who aren’t taking it SUPER seriously, but seriously enough to leave their places of work (more likely for a few minutes break in their day than anything else).
By the time I reach my building, all is clear. I head up 2 flights of stairs to my beautiful, bright apartment with cherry wood floors that are kind of squeaky and a fly buzzing around because I left one of the giant windows cracked for fresh air.
I eat my fruit, make some tea, and sit down in front of my computer when I notice the door to my bedroom is rocking to and fro.
That’s weird, it must be from that cracked window. Though it’s not that windy out. And the rocking is a bit aggressive.
I continue whatever “computer work” I’m doing when I start to feel a little queasy. It’s unnerving, and it feels as if something is moving but I can’t figure out what.
And then I look outside. People are all over the sidewalk, looking upwards in fright. I realize there is an alarm going off, and that the something that is moving is the building itself.
When they said an “earthquake simulation”, how much of a simulation was that supposed to be? And why is there another one, a mere 45 minutes later?
My brain is so confused at this point that (and yes I will admit this) I actually ask myself if there is a way to physically MOVE buildings as part of an active simulation and I decide that YES, there must be because there is simply no other explanation for this swaying of my building.
I run downstairs.
There is an undeniable stream of terror in the air. In the years 1985 AND 2017, on THIS VERY DAY, were two of the worst earthquakes in recent Mexican history. Major PTSD is kicking in for a lot of people right now, and it’s obvious.
As for me, I have nothing to compare it to. No inner trauma that is ignited by a past earthquake experience. My first thought went to the horrible building collapse in Surfside, Miami Beach in June of 2021.
My second thought went to this:
Life can change in an absolute instant.
An effing instant. In a good way, in a bad way, in any kind of way.
STOP HESITATING ON SHIT.
If you want to travel, DO IT. If you want to start a business, DO IT. If you want to make a big investment, DO IT. If you want to live in the African bush and hunt for your food and learn Swahili, DO IT AND DO NOT WAIT A SECOND LONGER.
Do what makes you happy. I cannot stress this enough.
This life is simply not long enough for excuses and hesitations. Imagine you live until 106 like me. It’s really not that much time.
You are fully in charge of creating a life that fulfills you. Take control of your happiness, you’re the only one who can!
With love,
Bethany
