You’ve probably heard of this crazy theory that the world is going to end on the 21st of this month.
Apparently the Mayans had some wicked good astronomers – for those times at least – and these guys made all sorts of star charts and stuff.These wise men (I’m going out on a limb here and guessing that there weren’t many lady astronomers) couldn’t “see” further than December 21, 2012.
While some New Agers think this means that the world and the people in it will evolve into something better – we’re in the Age of Aquarius aren’t we? – other conspiracy kooks firmly believe this will be the end of days.
Personally I’m not holding my breath for either outcome.
Now you discerning folk might realise that I’m a bit vague on the facts. That’s (for once!) through no fault of my own, but simply because we’re dealing with pseudo-science here.
Modern astronomers, with the help of actual physics and other nifty tools – the Hubble Telescope springs to mind – predict no such thing. And most actual scholars of the Mayan culture doubt that this prophecy was even made in the first place.
Suffice to say, even though it seems we’re doing our best to kill our habitat, I think we’ll be shuffling along on this mortal coil for a while yet.
But, in the interest of self-reflection and carpe diem and that whole “live every day as if it were your last” business, it might be a growing experience to think what we would do if we only had nine days left to live. So I’m asking you to put aside your skepticism, and suspend your disbelief willingly.
What would you do with your remaining days on Earth? Because after all, and this might be a bit of a downer for some, none of us will live forever – Mayan prophecy or not.
Would you pack up your kitbag and do the top 10 things on your bucket list? Would you stock up on canned goods and start digging a shelter? Would you draw all the money out of your account and have a nine-day-long moerse party? Would you start praying, or perhaps preaching?
I won’t do any of the above. I would probably try and gather all my loved ones around me and reminisce about what a ride it has been. But frankly I’m not sure how long we’d be able to keep that up.
I mean it’s bound to turn into a tear-fest and there are only so many times you can tell people you love them in nine days.
I guess I hope that in between the tears and the goodbyes we’ll settle into some sort of normality. That we would treasure the kids and their antics and try not to freak them out. That my dad would retreat and read his latest dense book on history.
That my mother would cook meal after meal when she’s not playing some or other convoluted version of Patience.That my brother will try to catch some awesome waves on his surfski and that my sisters and friends and family and all of those who are important to me but don’t fit into the aforementioned categories will be joking and arguing and laughing and playing and crying like we always do.
I guess I would want it to be a normal December. Because honestly, I can’t think of anything better.
What would you do if you had nine days left on Earth? Tell us and you could win a brand new Women24 t-shirt!
Love and crossed fingers
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