One Sentence that Changes Everything
By: Keith
In 4 years we will all be obliterated by a monstrous asteroid, and there’s nothing we can do about it.
While it’s not true (as far as we know) it’s a sentence that would certainly change the way you live. The boys and I were watching a show about planets, minor planets, moons, comets and asteroids. We were watching, minding our own business, amazed at all the cool stuff that whizzes by us every day, when the narrator said something like, “Someday all life on Earth will end because of an Asteroid.” Alan’s ears perked up, the hamster in his head ran a little faster on its wheel, and he asked me if the aforementioned asteroid was coming soon. “Jeez, I hope not!” was my reply. But that reply, upon reflection, didn’t seem helpful. I told him we’d know if an asteroid was on its way, and we’d probably be able to do something about it in time. Naturally that was when the narrator mentioned, as if on cue, that even if we know an asteroid is coming, we might not be able to do anything about it if said asteroid were too big to manage. Oh, great! Thanks, Narrator Guy! The boys and I finished watching the stupid show, but then we sat around talking about all the stuff we’d do if we knew we were doomed. That’s when I learned something new about my kids, and I was given hope.
What Would You Do?
I can tell you what I would and would not do. I’d stop getting uptight about school work and keeping anything clean. I’d spend all my time (more than I do already) with the boys. I’d never yell and I doubt I’d find any good reasons to be mad. I’d cancel my internet (This blog wouldn’t exist anymore) and throw out my TV. I would definitely buy another gun and hope nobody took the bad news as license to go nuts (dangit. If I only have 4 years left, I’m not about to give up any of my 1,460 remaining days to some jackass who wants to do me harm). Essentially almost everything I currently know would become invalid. The pursuit of money would become meaningless as would most material possessions. Politics would suddenly be seen for what it is – silly and petty. Every single one of us would be forced to completely reassess our reasons for living. Would people go crazy and start looting? Would people play naked grab ass, or would they become introspective and more peaceful? I don’t think there’s anybody who can truthfully say they wouldn’t change, not even the Dali-Lama.
What do Kids Think?
Don’t go scaring your kids on my account, but you might get some interesting replies if you present the scenario to them. When my boys and I talked about it I learned about a fundamental difference between kids and adults. The optimism of a kid is indefatigable.
1. It doesn’t matter how much you tell them it’s impossible. They say things like, “I’d build a space ship and find another planet.” “But,” you say “we don’t have the technology.” To Alan it doesn’t matter. “Then I’ll get people together and we’ll figure it out.” This kid wouldn’t even look up in the face of danger, he’d just keep working right up to the end.
2. Neil, no less impressively, announced, “I’d make lots of friends and play.” and I asked him “You wouldn’t be sad?” to which he replied “If I can’t do anything about it then there’s no reason to be sad.” Jeez, kids impress the hell out of me. That’s a more reasonable answer than I could have come up with.
I doubt you have any reason to feel sad for your kids. They probably don’t feel sad for themselves. They’re most likely either thinking of solutions or enjoying their lives. I think the rest of us crazies could learn a lot from our kids. I know I can.
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Yo creo que todos podemos aprender bastante de nuestros hijos, la pregunta es ¿Queremos hacerlo ?
Beautful…if only we could truly take this to heart. Hey! whats that glowing orb way up in the sky? too bright to be a star… hehe…
I’ve often thought about this same situation. How can you not with all the movies and TV shows about the subject? I still can’t say for certain what I would do, but I know one thing is I’d spend EVERY second with my wife and kids. I already want to do just that, but if I knew there was only a limited time for all of us, I’m make a lot better use of the time I did have. Of course when you break it down, isn’t the clock already ticking for all of us anyway? No one has an infinite amount of time here on earth, it’s just the knowing the exact time it ends that changes us.
i guess i wouldn’t be laughed at anymore for my underground asteroid protection bunker now would I?
Eric: No, I guess not! It beats hiding under a rock.
Awesome. Love how kids think.
I would find Bruce Willis first, then get the launch codes….
LIAYF: I knew someone was going to make that reference
I think children are naturally optimistic. And YES, emphatically yes, people would go nuts! Just think of the riots in L.A. or Louisiana for that matter. it would be mass chaos.
EVO: That’s probably true. Sadly, I can’t imagine a lot of people staying sane in such a circumstance, especially not the ones who are sorta iffy already.
Thing is, we ARE doomed. Every one of us will die sooner or later. Too bad we don’t live like we know it.
This is a great post. It is so true the amazing differences between how kids think and us “adults” (on paper) think. What I find sad is that kids grow up to be adults and then think like us. It should be the other way around, we need to grow “down”? and think more like our kids.
Everyday I realize, I could learn a lot from my kids!
We could all learn a ton from your kids and from most other kids too. Their optimism and perspective is amazing.
If I were faced with the end of the world, I would probably started watching “The Wire” immediately on DVD. Everyone keeps talking about how great that show was, and I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if I’m going to die without seeing it.