Member-only story
These experiences helped me reset, often in profound ways
I’m not sure if this story is a recommendation or some self-improvement note because many of these resets can’t be easily implemented. Some just happen.
Having surgery, a medical emergency, or going through a relative’s surgery. Over the last three years, one of my kids had to have surgery, and my wife and I both had one a couple of days ago. Fortunately, none of these situations involved serious diseases or emergencies. Still, the hospital walls remind you of a world so different from your everyday life. You’re subdued. You surrender. Your reliance on others — nurses and doctors — is humbling. You’re reminded of how fragile our lives are, not necessarily in a gloomy way, but you’re reminded nonetheless. When you leave, you’re less inclined to return to toxic habits or meaningless activities.
Seeing my close relative off at an airport. I wrote a story about this experience.
Saying goodbye to someone you love before they depart is one of the most intense reminders that the meaning of life is love, yet we only truly cherish this meaning…
