What are some life events that might cause someone to change their outlook on life to a more appreciative one?

Near death is certainly one happened to me twice which interestingly produced a similar appreciative outlook both times it happened. Sobriety is another game changer indeed. Stories are long and I hate to type…sorry.

@Vignette -Well, I love to type. XD
My dad had two near death experiences. One when he was a young boy, the other in Korea.
He was not religious in any way but after those experiences, he told me that he was no longer afraid of death.

Getting married.
Having kids.

I had no concept of how happy I could be not worrying about meeting that special someone in my life until I reached the age of 45 and realized the pure bliss of being single!

@kritiper One of my best friends has the same mindset as you and he is one of the happiest people I know.

Yep! @lucillelucillelucille THAT is what it is all about for me too! I did not want to come back from where I was taken to during that moment in time.

@Vignette -He said the same thing. He didn’t talk about God but he changed his mind about a few things after the second experience-still despised organized religion though. XD

@lucillelucillelucille Hmmm…I gave up on religion too when I got old enough to drive to the park instead of the church and have not looked back. I have not had the opportunity to compare notes with other white lighters and would be interesting to see if this is a common denominator with others besides your dad.

As i’ve related before, my mum lost her only daughter & my baby sister when she was just a few weeks old, little darling was born with heart trouble & died peacefully in her arms.
I was only 3 at the time & have no memory of the heartbreaking tragedy that ripped her apart, but what I do know is, it changed her.

She already had at that time myself & my elder brother & would go on to have a further son, yes, i’m the “piggy in the middle” of the 3 brothers lol.
She has often said that as traumatic as the experience of losing a child so very young in such a cruel way was, it led her to appreciate life, particularly in her 3 remaining boys & never let it define her life. I would have loved a little sister to protect & look after, but it wasn’t meant to be & i’m so proud that as a family we grew strength from ourselves & our positive outlook on life…thanks for that mum…I love ya to bits!!!

@Vignette – He gained a belief in God after what he experienced but completely rejected religion.
He rarely talked about it or God but he did let me know what he thought.

@ucme <<Hugs>> Your mom sounds lovely.

@lucillelucillelucille I mean, I’m kinda biased, but yeah…she’s a diamond :-)