Are you holding the TV?
Costa Rica. Jan 09, 2009 - 1:20 p.m.
A sound.
A faint rumble grew louder and louder, like a river of rocks approaching at full speed.
Then the floor shook violently sideways, and decorations crashed from the wall to the floor.
For a brief moment, my friends and I sat frozen in shock as the windows and the glass furniture waved violently around us—not exactly where you want to be during an earthquake.
“Everybody out, now!” I shouted, and the group of teens stampeded out the front door.
As we reached the yard, my friend MJ’s younger brother suddenly turned and ran back into the house.
Scared and confused, MJ and I dashed after him. Fortunately, the earthquake stopped as we entered.
After a quick search of the rooms, MJ reappeared with a dangerous look on her face, dragging her brother by the arm.
“He was… holding... the TV… on the wall… of his room!” she explained through gritted teeth.
“What was I supposed to do," he protested, "let it fall down?”
Are you holding the TV?
You make plans as we all do. And then, pretty often, your plans get derailed.
That’s just life.
A sickness. A pandemic. Inflation.
You can’t really know for certain what will hit you next.
But when these things happen, what are you supposed to do?
Sadly, I’ve seen too many people hold on to the things that entertain them: their vices and devices.
- They totally messed up that project. They deal with it by scrolling on Instagram until they forget about it.
- They’re not getting any new clients and they’re using up their savings. But they binge-watch Netflix series until 2 am to numb their stress.
These actions are like holding your TVs during an earthquake: useless and dangerous.
Search for safe spaces, not distractions
When your world is shaking, and all you’ve built is falling apart, resist the urge to run after distractions.
It's better to let some things crumble than getting buried with them.
Instead, take some distance for a while and look for safe spaces. Surround yourself with people who can give you advice, guidance, and support.
And when the chaos stops, go back and assess the damage.
Then replace, repair, or rebuild what doesn't work anymore, and start fresh.
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