Well, this week started off with a jolt, or you may know it better as an earthquake. Honestly, I had no idea there was an earthquake in LA until I went online Monday morning. I slept right through it, but Max didn’t.
He actually woke me up because he was running around so much. This was our first earthquake since I adopted him (he, of course, would insist that he adopted me!). Anyway, I feel a bit bad since he was tearing around the apartment and I was mumbling at him to settle down, so I could sleep. Poor guy. He was probably scared!
To me, earthquakes feel like being on a tilt-a-whirl or airplane turbulence. It’s a little topsy turvy and you just roll with it because until the earth stops trembling, there is not much you can do. I’ve experienced several since moving here and they have only lasted a few seconds. Everyone back home always asks me what I’m going to do when California falls into the ocean. I always say, “swim”. 🙂
Letting Go in a Topsy Turvy World
I actually hate tilt-a-whirls and airplane turbulence. I cried when I went on my first roller coaster ride, which is probably not that uncommon, but I was 14 years old. So yeah, it was a little awkward after I peeled my blubbering and runny nose self off of my poor cousin who had the grave misfortune of riding with me.
The sensation of falling and twisting and turning really nauseates me. I suspect it’s more than just a fear of heights or falling though—it’s the lack of control. I have never considered myself to be a control freak, but letting go and experiencing the moment isn’t always easy for me.
While I don’t think you should just “wing” life and see what happens, there is a beauty to just letting go of expectations and seeing what happens. To live in the moment and embrace what happens next. To marvel at the journey and see the miracle in life.
Free Falling into the Unknown
Goals are good and necessary and having an action plan is an absolute must—but we … or I … get so caught up in them happening exactly as we have planned. But life isn’t linear. It’s typically far from it. Being rigid or inflexible means things will eventually break; you must be nimble to succeed. Things shift and change and we … or I … need to know when to let go of expectations and enjoy the sensation of a free fall with butterflies in our stomach and open ourselves to new, unplanned opportunities.
Earthquakes can be unpredictable, dangerous and a little bit scary, and I certainly don’t wish for us to experience another anytime soon. But I must confess that I am a bit disappointed that I slept through the one we had last Monday. Sometimes that jolt of fear and unbalanced sensation is the perfect reminder to look beyond ourselves and see what other opportunities exist in a topsy turvy world.
Hey there Tanya!
I love how you said we should live in the moment. I live by a to do list for just about every aspect of my life and 80% of the time I don’t go by it because of life’s curve balls.
I’ve learned to just go with it and not stress over it like I used to.
Thanks for sharing this…great food for thought!
Happy Wednesday!
I love a good to-do list too. 🙂 Although sometimes it seems like I just write one and have to toss it because of life’s curve balls. LOL! Yes, we definitely have to go with the flow, otherwise we drive ourselves crazy trying to swim against the tide. Happy Wednesday to you too! By the way – love the new pic too! 🙂
Beautiful thoughts, Tanya. I love the last line – it’s so true. Max, the poor little sweetie… good thing he’s a trooper! I bet he’ll be mentioning this event next Monday! I hope your having a wonderful week! 🙂
Thanks, Stephanie. It’s weird because I really hate the sensation of falling and yet sometimes it’s feel good to go into unchartered territory. I’ll never be a thrill seeker but a little “thrill” is good on occasion! Max has big plans for his post on Monday but I promised not to spill in advance. LOL!
“Swim”. That’s funny! Seriously, though, I need to read the paper more or something: I didn’t even know there was an earthquake until I read this! Glad you guys are okay. 🙂
I think it’s funny too. My parents probably less so. 🙂 I should probably get Max a cat-sized life jacket. LOL! The earthquake wasn’t major so I’m sure it was only big news here. The area it did affect was closer to where all the celebs live, so they were apparently tweeting up a storm while I slept through it!
Funny that Max was running around during the earthquake. Cats sense things so quickly and easily, esp when unusual things.
Sleeping through the earthquake reminds me of when my father slept through a tornado. 🙂
I agree with you, sometimes we have to let go of expectations and just let life happen. Actually, some of the best things that have happened in my life had nothing to do with me setting goals or planning for them to happen. Actually the things I do plan kind of end up getting screwed up somehow.
I have never slept through a tornado (knock on wood). Growing up in Minnesota, I’ve been in my fair share of tornado warning but we were always lucky that none touched down. Cats do sense things and when Emeril would start racing around during a bad storm, it always made me nervous.
Yes! Sometimes when I have best plans that when everything goes wrong! Sometimes when you are so caught up in “A” happening that you never notice “B, C, D” and so on and mix out on a lot of opportunities.
Too funny, I slept through a big earthquake, too, and was only awaken by my cousin who spent the night already under the table across the room (umm, thanks for looking out. ;)). I agree that it’s important to be flexible and ride out unexpected actions, and just readjust your goals. It’s easier said than done, but it’s doable. I loved this post and your analogies, Tanya!
I’m glad I’m not the on who has slept through an earthquake! Too funny about your cousin! Yes, sometimes we need to the hidden benefit when things don’t go as expected or how we intended. I often things truly do work out for the best and the less resistant I am, the better they turn out.