The Sassy Side of Sixty: ‘Acts of God’ Remind Us to Value the Present

Thailand has had its fair share of natural disasters or so-called ‘acts of God’, which are, to a very large extent, manmade and could be somewhat minimised if the authorities become more stringent with structural blueprints and supervision thereof, and tackle the rampant corruption in the realm of public works with a firmer hand. But it is what it is because we are Khon Thai and we shut our eyes and ears, and carry on with our infamous mai pen rai attitude.

With global warming a sad reality, the Earth has faced an increase in the frequency of floods, droughts, tropical storms, tsunamis, forest fires, landslides, and earthquakes, extracting a far bigger toll on our society, environment, human lives, and the economy than their predecessors. Being a low-lying country, flooding has been and remains our biggest woe, with the one in 2001 affecting 13 million households across the nation, including Bangkok, causing damage of USD 46.6 billion and 813 human lives.

Then, on the 24th of December 2004, Thailand and many coastal shores across the planet faced a devastating tsunami. Consequently, this left 5,395 lives lost, over 8,000 injured, and more than 2,000 missing in its aftermath, creating a loss of USD 890 million for the six southwestern provinces along the coast of the Andaman Sea.

However, we, as mere humans, stand helpless in the face of these natural calamities, and experiencing the recent act of God, the earthquake on March 28th, which shook and swayed not only our buildings, and had water sloshing from rooftop swimming pools, but it also shook our perspective of life as we knew it, till then. Here is the shift in our thoughts after experiencing the tremor firsthand.

• A deeper awareness of the reality of our mortality!

• I feel that life is difficult for everybody, but we have to carry on doing our best to keep moving forward and to help each other do the same. Things change, and though it is difficult to accept, if there’s nothing much we can do, then it’s best to learn to cope, so as not to burden others.

• Gratitude! Every morning, we awaken—eyes open—gratitude/shukrana for another beautiful, blessed day to live to the fullest and in which to make the most! Count the blessings, not the complaints and grievances.

• It’s a scary world we are living in!

• To cherish every moment, as life can change in an instant.

• Although we normally have our documents, etc., ready in a bag, the earthquake did not give me time to even wear my slippers or get my phone. While being safe is important, being alive and in the moment is even more important.

• Appreciation and gratitude!

• Life constantly reminds us to expect anything, at any time, because nothing really goes as planned, including this unforeseen event. Through it all, I’m grateful that my family is safe as we looked out for each other; love and support are everything.

• I guess you never know when things hit you out of nowhere. Grateful that friends and family were willing to come through.

• I now live and take life as it comes and believe that when things have to happen, they will happen. Feeling the earthquake was scary, but when SMSs confirmed that the epicentre was Myanmar, the danger seemed less imminent.

• Through the quake, I saw the fragility of life and the need for some preparedness for such events. I’m grateful for the community’s togetherness.

• Ownership is an illusion, whether of one’s identity, body, or property, because it takes but a few seconds to destroy everything that we know and are familiar with and take for granted. Calamities, like this one, bring out both the angel and the devil within each of us. So, live by valuing the present moment and, in case of emergencies, practice presence of mind, which will come in handy, rather than letting fear and panic take over, which will get us nowhere.