So I was hospitalized briefly last week, and before any of you perverts start to grow a heart, I'll let you know that I'm perfectly fine. My reason for writing this has more to do with a strange thing that I experienced, and I'm wondering if anyone has ever felt something similar.

When I was hospitalized I was completely terrified. I was really scared and alone, but out of that came a feeling of peace, relief and gratitude to even be alive and breathing. I realized that things could have been a lot worse for me and I could have been in really bad shape.

Since then I've felt a tremendous change in my everyday life with basic things that I always had a problem with, like my temper, bad attitude and general lack of patience.

I feel a little cheesy saying this but I really have started to appreciate the little things in life and have transitioned into what I believe is a much more positive state of mind. Every day I wake up and immediately start to count my many blessings, but most of all just happy to be alive!

This may not be the best place for this on the forum and I doubt that I'll get very many genuine replies, but I am really wondering if anyone has ever experienced anything similar that scared them to the point where the mind shifted into a new awareness or attitude? I feel like this whole experience has resulted in a complete revelation, or what some may even call a spiritual breakthrough...

So yeah...does anyone have a similar story?

I've been close to death in the hospital a few times and it does indeed change the way you move through life. You're very young and it will be interesting to see if that effect lasts or fades into memory !

Hey BDM, how's it going?
You were actually one of the people I hoped would respond to this. You have probably gone through more than most of us here will ever have to deal with in our lives. But your online persona comes across as so positive and upbeat and that's one of the things that makes you so great!

You're right that these feelings can easily become a distant memory. I think a lot of people take advantage of the "passes" that they're given in life, including myself. For example one time I was in a really bad car accident and came out without a scratch but I never felt like this before. I just have to keep reminding myself how lucky I am to be alive and well! And I hope you are feeling well today! xo

In my experience spiritual experiences need to be followed by action to keep the gain. You can keep this, though, as long as you continue to nourish your spiritual health. You are using one of the most powerful tools, too, gratitude. Enjoy.

Mhm. Something horrible comes down the pike eventually and destroys my relationship with the world again at some point,but yeah i can relate.

Ending up in the hospital with a death scare, yours was different than mine. But, what I came away from mine with was the understanding that you only get a limited number of opportunities to really help people. Most of the time, people don't want your help anyway or will just manipulate it to get something they want. You can't really understand what those limited opportunities mean unless you've been through something where for an extended period of time you've been struggling and just been like, "fuck all to hell I wish somebody would fucking help me, I don't even need all that much help... Just a few little things I can not handle myself." And, you don't help them for their sake, you help them for your own.

I think the near death experience just reinforces that it really is just you, alone. When you come through it alone, as a matter of course, it empowers you. You realize you are here by yourself. BTW- I'm glad you made it to the other side.

Enjoy every sandwich.

Mama Said the Pistol is the Devil's Right Hand....I think she meant my penis, but hooo well....

This is just perfect. I was thinking of the exact same quote/song. I had a scare of my own in 2005. Talk of heart transplants (never happened, never will) - but I can relate. The ugly thing about it is how quickly the feeling dissipated. You get back to work and dealing w/ family & friends and all the ennui comes back.

Find a way to hold on to it a little while, dude

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Enjoy every sandwich.

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