A long-ago lover once argued against the value of statistics in dictating a course of action by citing the case of a man killed in bed by a meteorite. The statistical chances of it happening, he told me, were very slim, but that slim chance meant nothing to the dead man.
There's also a slim chance that life on earth will once again be wiped out by an asteroid. The movies have shown us example after example. I suppose that, if we watch enough of them, we will have some idea of what to do in the event.
In the meantime, however, I suggest that we take a deep breath and read this little poem from Robert Frost. Who, I think, had a very sensible approach. Because although it's true that a meteorite may crash through the roof at any second, it's far more likely that you will need to get some sleep before tackling that project you promised yourself you would start tomorrow.
On Looking Up By Chance At The Constellations
You'll wait a long, long time for anything much
To happen in heaven beyond the floats of cloud
And the Northern Lights that run like tingling nerves.
The sun and moon get crossed, but they never touch,
Nor strike out fire from each other nor crash out loud.
The planets seem to interfere in their curves -
But nothing ever happens, no harm is done.
We may as well go patiently on with our life,
And look elsewhere than to stars and moon and sun
For the shocks and changes we need to keep us sane.
It is true the longest drought will end in rain,
The longest peace in China will end in strife.
Still it wouldn't reward the watcher to stay awake
In hopes of seeing the calm of heaven break
On his particular time and personal sight.
That calm seems certainly safe to last to-night.