Let me state the obvious; the world is not safe. Each year people are caring less and getting more hostile. For this reason, we have to learn how to defend ourselves. Often we hear news of violence and attacks on women, children, and men. Sometimes oppressors can hide this violence in verbal and sexual harassment are classified as a joke.

Yesterday, a fully conscious man flashed his genitals at me, shaking them in my presence like a cheap fruit. I was disgusted and angry. Unfortunately, the only thing I could do was run.

Many people have faced worse situations, some of which can lead to rape or murder. I was a victim.

These prompted the need to write this article. How can we defend ourselves? How can we defend our sisters and children from such a cold world? What is our first line of defense? What can we do when an attacker is armed, there are multiple attackers, or there is no safe place to run?

In my part of the world, if I am to report such a case to the police, it will be dismissed by the same people who swore to protect us.

A few years ago, I worked as a massage therapist. Part of the job required self-defense training, and I have read books about self-defense. Let me share some of the things I learned about self-defense with you. You never know when the day of the adversary will come.

Run if you can

One of the first things you will learn in any self-defense class is that evading an attack is better than blocking an attack.

After reflecting on the incident of that night, I realized that one of the reasons the man was able to take advantage was because he saw I was alone that night. He identified me as vulnerable. So, try going around with people. There is strength in numbers.

We will not live a life of fear, but we must be aware of how wicked humans are. So if you are in a place alone, don’t be afraid. Instead, let someone know where you are or let them know about where you are going or let someone know your itinerary for the day. And If you are not able to inform people, at least stand in a well-lit area or somewhere with cameras.

Something goes wrong

Many things can go wrong, so it is important to defuse them immediately. The abuser may decide to follow you or become aggressive. Run and scream!

We have strong instincts, and we must trust them. Trusting our instincts is one of the most powerful things we can do now.

So what do you do if the abuser catches up or you do not get a chance to run? My next instinct would be to disgust the abuser. I would urinate, defecate or say I was on my period, all while screaming and shouting. Again some people should be in a psychiatric hospital but are roaming the streets out there; those who fantasize about their victims screaming and fighting, wet and bleeding.

After the night’s incident, I went home calling as many people as I thought cared. People gave me different advice. One of the concerning pieces of advice I got was about taking a picture of the man and showing it to the police. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to take photos or bring my phone out. I was more focused on getting out of the situation as soon as possible. Which I think was the best thing I did. Taking a picture of the abuser might infuriate him, and he might strike or become aggressive.

Many victims blame themselves for the event of the attack. I did too. I was angry with myself for not being able to defend myself or for being in the situation in the first place. I had to take a few days off to reset. I watched reels and TikTok mindlessly to help me forget about what I went through. I couldn’t sleep because I kept on getting flashbacks about the event. The sight of anyone who looked like him infuriated me. I just needed time to get rid of the anger.

Victims should be courageous enough to talk about the events and the flashbacks. Although the world is wicked, some kind-hearted people are willing to listen and give a hand when you need help. Of course, finding a friend to talk to about the events also helps, but if you feel like you are not coping, you can book a session with a psychologist.

You should also sign up for a self-defense class. One of the first things you will learn in any self-defense class is that evading an attack is better than blocking an attack. If you can run, run.

But for him who is joined to all the living, there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they will die, But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten- Ecclesiastes 9:4-12

The first time I felt my pulse, I remembered the essence of life. I know this sounds bizarre; you might be asking what I mean. Let me explain!

Lately, I have forgotten that the fundamental goal is to stay alive. It doesn’t matter what challenges we might face. We must strive to stay alive every day—breath in, breath out, don’t stop.

No matter what challenge or even when your anxiety is blinding. Keep going.

Medical school is bliss. ‘Cough Cough.’ Baring all, I am grateful that it reminded me about living and staying alive.

Do you have any idea how hard our systems are working to make sure we are alive? Take the heart for example. The heart beats even when we decide to sleep. It doesn’t complain, it has one job, keep beating.

This awareness inspired me to keep working to achieve my dream, to be persistent and intentional.

The first time I felt my pulse, I prayed my heart would not stop. I will not stop living; please don’t stop beating. I will not give up; please continue pumping.

Med school will explain how the most common cause of diseases is imbalance. A plethora of things can go wrong in our bodies, and sometimes, we call them idiopathic. Idiopathic means the doctors do not know the cause. It just happened.

The first time I felt my pulse, I prayed. Dear God, Keep me safe in this cold world, alive and healthy. Give me the will to want to stay alive, so I can fulfill my task and make the world a better place.

The first time I felt my pulse, I realized the value of time. My heart has been beating for more than two decades. 

The first time I felt my pulse, I was grateful for life and good health.

It has been unusually windy all day, and all birds seek shelter in the thickest trees. Initially, I was sorry for them; they seemed afraid and confused. But, the funny thing was, these birds knew more about what was coming.

The birds were even luckier because they flew; they were more equipped for the dangers.

At around 10 pm, for a good 2 minutes, the whole city was shaking. There was an earthquake!

I had never experienced an Earthquake before. I was terrified; I did not know what was happening or what to do. I thought I was safe in my apartment, but even this ‘shelter’ was not safe. My instinct was to escape; I was not in the safest place I could be.

Where can one run to during an Earthquake?

Walls cracked, windows broke, “what is happening.”The place I felt safe was in danger. I could be trapped, dead, or, worse, injured. I wished I could fly when the earth was not safe anymore.

The Earthquake experience got me thinking; we never know what will happen next. All we have is hope and prayer.

I am grateful to God for safety and for helping to reduce the Earthquake’s impact. How can we live and ignore this God? The Source of Life, light, and wisdom. They know what will happen before it happens.

We do not control our next breath or the flow of our blood. This is enough reason to be aware of the Highest, Most Supreme, and Sovereign energy.

We can choose to be angry and scared because we live in a chaotic world, living in a silent depression about a world where birds could be singing one time and in the next second fall out of the sky, or we can choose to be aware that despite all this unpredictability, there is a capable God.

The awareness that we are not alone.

The awareness that the world is not as it seems. It is not simply black or white. It is spiritual warfare. The Earthquake experience made me realize that it is not our job to fix the uncertainty or label the world, its people, or the things that happen. Instead, our purpose is to raise our vibrations, to give God the glory and honor in everything, to praise them and allow them to fight and win these battles.

Check out our future posts on what to do during an earthquake. Also, like and leave a comment if you can relate to this article.