Many things have happened to me that
have changed my perspective on life, but there was one event in
particular that made me realize that I should always appreciate what
I have, because I could lose everything in the blink of an eye.
When I was a senior in high school, I
Pole Vaulted for my school's track team. During Outdoor Track, which
takes place in the Spring, I was competing in the Maryland State
Champion Outdoor Track and Field Meet. It was my turn to vault, so I
started down the runway, raised my arms with my pole in hand, and
jumped. Instead of successfully making it over the bar and onto the
mat, I veered off to the right, completely missing the mat. Falling
thirteen feet to the ground face first, I stuck my hand out to break
the fall, landed on my wrist, hit my head on the ground, and lost
consciousness. I awoke moments later, to find out that I was mostly
intact, except for a broken wrist. I felt so blessed, because instead
of breaking my neck or even dying, I managed to get up and walk away
from the fall.
That near death experience really
changed my perspective on life. I realized that I could lose so much
in so little time. Since that accident, I have never taken anything
for granted, and I have always been thankful for what I have, no
matter how little, or how big.
I believe that people should be happy
with what they have, and that they should never take anything for
granted, because they could lose it all at any time.
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