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Adirondackwannabe's avatar

Have you been nearly killed and how does that affect your thoughts on life, at least for a little while.

Asked by Adirondackwannabe (36713points) May 20th, 2010

Had to get to the post office about an hour ago. At one of the cross streets a pickup is waiting to turn right and traffic is kind of busy. I’m crossing the crosswalk, a small opening develops and as I’m in front of the truck, he goes for the opening. He’s looking left, never saw me. I was just quick enough to get most of the way clear, lost a little skin. It was extremely close. Gave me a cool adrenaline high for awhile and made me think about what’s important in life. Gives more meaning to don’t sweat the small stuff.

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11 Answers

Draconess25's avatar

I fell from a 20’ tree branch & broke 3 ribs. My brother nearly killed me multiple times. I got a 106 degree fever (I didn’t learn until 3 years later that it’s deadly; I felt perfectly fine). I got hit by a car.

Has any of this changed the way I see life? Nope.

syz's avatar

I’ve had a couple of near death experiences, but as best as I can remember, I so busy trying to recover that I didn’t have time to become reflective.

Adirondackwannabe's avatar

This one was there and over in a heartbeat, so I walked away from it and had a chance to think. I did get my hand a lot harder than I thought. The adrenaline is wearing off and I can really feel it now.

chyna's avatar

I lost half my blood supply during surgery about 4 years ago. Then when I woke up, my blood pressure was 204/100. They waited a whole day to give me a blood transfusion. I think that’s about as close to dying as I’ve ever been and that was probably not really that close. But I was kind of out of it from the morphine that I really couldn’t get a handle on what was going on around me. I knew what was happening, but as if from a distance. By the time I was told everything 2 days later, I guess I was out of the reflective stage.

Berserker's avatar

I almost drowned in a lake once. But I guess it didn’t really change my life, and I still haven’t gotten around to learning how to swim.
And to think, my Zodiac sign is pisces.

lucillelucillelucille's avatar

Totalled a few cars and was hit by a train-no,I wasn’t driving that time…a few other things too.
I know that life is too short .

FutureMemory's avatar

Sure, but nothing too exciting:

A couple of severe asthma attacks that necessitated trips to the ER; Many close calls on my bike.

aprilsimnel's avatar

Hit twice by cars (at different ages), and a few other incidents. I think because some of those incidents happened at such a young age, not only was I filled with sheer terror where the only thing on my mind was surviving, I also didn’t have the maturity to think about these things in the sense of “Oh, every second of every day that I breathe, I am so lucky to be alive!” in the way an adult who has had a near-death experience might.

I stayed stuck in that “survival” mindset for much too long. I’ve had to guide myself out of that, so it’s taken a lot longer than it “should” have for me to become more emotionally self-sufficient and to honestly cherish the short time we all have here. Sometimes, people who live day to day in survival mode don’t think those sorts of “Oh, I must realign my life priorities!” thoughts, you know?

Divalicious's avatar

I had an inmate that tried to kill me. My trust was affected. If anyone approaches me from a blind side, I’ll take their head off. I also freaked out during my MRI after the attack. Being motionless and confined while surrounded by strangers terrified me.

jazmina88's avatar

i have flat lined before and someone saved my life. 20 years ago. twice. We have a bond.
and I am eternally grateful.

GrumpyGram's avatar

I almost drowned in a lake at church camp. A camp counselor, skilled in swimming, saved me. I was stunned after she dumped me in a beach chair and walked off . Had zero effect on me afterwards, though.

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