5 Life Lessons Death Taught Me
It is said that “Live each day like it is your last” because many of us don’t really think of death and do not value the present time that we are living in.
We often listen to the words “time flies” and always nod in agreement after hearing this but do we listen to it? Do we really mean it?
I still remember a time when I thought death is near me and that experience has changed my whole life, it also changed my perspective towards life.
I remember when I was in a hospital, there I was taken to the emergency room who made me settle down on a chair. The doctor was observing me, one of the nurses was checking my blood pressure level while the other nurse was taking my blood out for some lab test work.
I was confused, scared, and got anxious about what is happening to me. I was trying to talk to the doctor about what had happened but I barely could. The one thing which I was experiencing continuously was the pain in my heart around the left shoulder and the back. The pain was slowly reaching to my left arm too. And the pain was so much that I was feeling like my heart is going to pop out.
According to my knowledge, all the symptoms were of a Heart Attack. All these thoughts were bouncing in my mind like what would happen, I am too young for this and all kinds of negative thoughts.
After getting my blood samples and everything, they wheeled me in the emergency room and all I could see was machines and monitors surrounded me which made me more anxious. All I could think of what if anything serious comes or what if I died?
After a few minutes, I calmed myself, and when there was nobody in the room, I was waiting for my results whether it really is a heart attack, am I going to survive or not, I didn’t know what was going to happen.
I realized that these could be the only moments of my life I don’t like it but this could be the turning point.
I always have this habit of penning down my thoughts whenever I feel happy or sad. So, this time also, I picked up the doctor’s prescription, and behind that page, I started writing:
- Death is the greatest teacher
Fear of death or getting close to death can teach us a lot. In the daily hustle and bustle of life, we never think about death that it is coming which is a reality. Death is a teacher that tells us that how precious life is and how limited time we have on earth.
Can’t we make the best out of it?
If I know that I have only a few months left to live, what will I do differently, will I act with my friends and family the same way? Will I follow my passion instead of a 9–5 job? Yes, I will do all those things and value the time I am living in.
2. We only have one body
We can get another house, another car, another job, all of these things can be bought and brought back. But if your liver is damaged or have any heart problem, you cannot get it back, you only have one body so you have to take really good care of it.
3. Appreciate things before it is taken away from you
Whether it is sunlight, the ability to play tennis or football, being able to hug your friends and family, or even in the times of corona. We realize that how beautiful and precious it is sitting with your friends in a restaurant and having a meal. That is extraordinary and we realize the value of it when we were locked down in our respective houses. So, appreciate everything in life.
4. Life is full of ups and downs
Ups and downs are the constant things in life. You need to understand that life can ring you surprises that you never expected at any point in your life. And that is the nature of life whether you like it or not.
So, these up and downs, winning or losing these all are part of life with we have to live and accept things that we cannot change.
5. Never forget these 4 rules
So, at that point I didn’t know whether I have a heart attack or am I going to die, I was completely uncertain, confused and I went back home and slept with all positivity.
Then the morning came around, doctors were ready with the entire set of results and the cardiologist came to me and said: “Mr. Chaudhari, you do not have a heart attack in fact your heart is totally fine.” The pain was hyperacidity or some muscle pain but not a heart attack.
As I was walking out, I saw some exercising machines and after seeing them suddenly I recognized the reason for my pain. A few days ago, I tried a new elliptical and done some weird movement around my shoulders, my chest.
That made me clear that it was my muscle pain as I tried new exercises.
When doctors asked me during the examination if I have done any unusual movement I said ‘no’, just because of fear I forgot that I have tried a new machine in the gym.
With a big smile on my face, I stepped out of the hospital taking those five rules in my hand.
Today also I keep those rules with me and I think you should too.
