fragile life

Every so often, a near-death or near-life-changing experience will remind us of the fragility of our existence. I'm not referring to contracting cancer or some other debilitating illness. I mean those times we tiptoe on the edge of a tragedy, and barely escape unscathed. Sometimes it's only a whisper, like when 9/11 happened in close proximity to me. Or when the second Bali bombings occured just when I was planning a trip there. Other times, it's like a fire alarm going off in my ear. Like the day a tree almost fell on top of me. (Incidentally, that was the very first post on this blog.) When these things happen, we are suddenly awaked to the fact that that could have been me.

Our modern world is full of dangers that can happen at any time, to anyone. There are so many misfortunes that can happen in an instant of inattentiveness (or obliviousness) and change your life forever. Or end it.

1) Getting hit by a car
2) Hitting someone with your car
3) Being in a plane/train crash (supposedly less likely than a car crash but probably more fatal)
4) Having drug traffickers hide drugs in your luggage
5) Getting struck by lightning
6) Bursting an aneurism in the brain or heart
7) Having a tree fall on you
8) Being in a building that collapses or catches fire
9) Terrorist attack
And many many other natural disasters and ridiculous freak accidents could happen. Thankfully Singapore is spared most of the natural ones.

Any of these things could happen to us, and we would have no control over the outcome. We would have no inkling it is about to happen. Life is short, pray hard. Buy insurance. And try not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.