Imagine this (overused and cliche) scenario: You have just been told by a doctor that your terminal illness, ______, will kill you and that you only have a few months to live. Time stops. Your whole world changes; takes on a new perspective. What would you do? Collapse in on yourself in a pile of self pity? ..or would you just try to enjoy the rest of the time you have left? until..
THE END
Choices. Changes. Confusion. Reluctance. Fear and Pity. Many things may cross your mind. It would be a lot for anyone to fathom in an instance. However, it's this very type of worry and anxiety that one may face when staring into the face of the number 2012. Proponents and advocates, of the associated theories with the matter, are basically telling you that your life will end in about 3 years. So, what should you think or do about it? if anything?
2012. This four-digit number has become synonymous with the end of the world. The Apocalypse. Doomsday. It’s going to happen eventually. Nothing lasts forever. Yet, as the date draws ever nearer, people have begun to wonder whether it might actually happen. Obviously, all other doomsday prophecies have failed to be realized. Whether or not you like the idea, you must decide how plausible it is. If you truly believe it is going to happen then you can either live out your life or prepare for the end. Well, have you ever imagined what it would be like for you to be diagnosed with a terminal illness? …like cancer, perhaps. Your whole world would have to be seen from a different perspective. It wouldn’t make sense to live like you aren’t going to die from the affliction. Yet, maybe that is exactly what you should do.There is a significant amount of articles and books on 2012 theories. Research them online or in your library. The information is out there and it is easy to find. The Mayan Calendar. Web Bot. Edgar Cayce. Terrence McKenna. The Bible. Nostradamus. The I-Ching. The Bible Code. St. Malachi and the Prophecy of Popes. Etc. The list goes on. I encopurage you to research these topics and make conclusions yourself on how plausible these scenarios actually are. So, what are the odds? It’s compelling enough to read about each one, but it is even more gripping to find that every one points to 2012, in some way. The question that begs to be asked is; "WHAT IF?" What if the world is actually going to end? If the world TRULY is meant to end like so many theories say it is then there is nothing we can do about it. Whatever happens, happens. There’s a saying that says you shouldn’t worry about things you have no control over. There’s no point. Why should you worry? What good is it going to do? If the world is meant end then it's not like your going to be able to do anything about it anyway.
Imagine, for a moment, that today is the end of the world. What do you see yourself doing or thinking? You could be hiding in a bomb shelter behind your house, clinching your teeth and firmly embracing your loved ones. However, you could also be sitting at the top of a grassy hill in front of a picturesque sunset, watching meteors fall from the sky. Both scenarios are possible. You could either experience the apocalypse in a state of anxiety or serenity. The choice is solely yours. You can be afraid to die or accept your fate. If you think you lived a good life and have experienced all you wanted to then dying is nothing to fear. In the end, you think about the beginning. I've been there before. When you face death you think about how you lived your live. Death is something to be afraid of only if you have things you still want to finish or experience. Enjoy life while you can. Find happiness or live well enough that it finds you. No one can tell you how to be happy. Your parents can help. Your friends can help. Ultimately, it is up to you to find out what it is that gives your life meaning. There is no need to buy a “self help” book to examine your life and find the answers you need. All you need to do is simply take some time to think. Look at what you have done and what you have failed to do. Appreciate life. Find a purpose. Find peace. Be honest and fair with people. Have no regrets. Do not dwell on failure and misery. Mistakes are opportunities for growth. Look for the beauty, even in the lowest points in your life. You may have heard these sayings before. They may seem cliche, yet, if you have come to learn what they actually mean then you realize how much truth is there. It is not easy to view life optimistically or ideally. It rarely is. However, it is possible. It can be done. Perhaps, even the end of the world can be a beautiful thing.
The concept of the inevitability of doomsday is scary. But why? Why does death have to be this foreboding taboo? Try to look at death as part of life, part of the life cycle. It is a new beginning, some believe. Yet, even if death is the absolute final end what would liken people to want it not to be? There doesn’t have to be a second chance. The end could be just that: the end. Nothing more. What lies after the apocalypse is unknown, of course. Yet, is it not possible to be hopeful? Maybe the end of the world is just the end of the world as we know it. All life does not necessarily have to cease to exist. There is potential for a post-apocalyptic society is there not? Humanity has persevered through a great deal of adversity in the past. So, if it is possible for the human race to survive 2012, then they will. People will find a way to outlast and overcome.
People do live when doctors have told them they are not expected to survive. Death is the biggest adversity a person can overcome. Just like apocalyptic theories in the past, 2012 could turn out to be a year just like any other. The new millenium passed without major incidents, like the internet crashing and other technological failure, that were of concern at the time. 2012 could all be speculation and worry with no real threat to society. The only threat then, is ourselves. If too many people buy into these doomsday premonitions then our world might actually end through mass pandemonium and hysteria. However, when the day comes, if everyone remains calm and collected, humanity will stand a much better chance at surviving.