Yesterday, I posted something about my life getting on my nerves.  And, you know what?  It’s not really that bad – it could be a lot worse.  After posting my rant, I started thinking about an email I received about a week ago and began to feel self-indulgent and ridiculous.

The email informed me that a co-worker from my old place of employment had experienced a tragedy.  He was the catcher during a baseball game – during a play at home, the runner collided with him in such a way that the impact fractured his spinal cord.  This happened on July 1st and he is still in the hospital as of today.  He is on a vent, has a trach, and a feeding tube.  Due to the event, he also started having heart problems so the doctors had to implant a temporary pacemaker.  You can read his story on his blog – Rick’s Recovery.

Rick is one of those rare employees that goes above and beyond the call of duty.  While I worked at Symetra, he was definitely the go-to guy and you could always rely on him to find a solution to your quandary.  I’m sure that he is sorely missed right now.  It’s said that everyone is replaceable – I don’t subscribe to that notion.  There are those that are really, really hard to replace and I believe that Rick is one of those exceptions.

Also, as you know, we’ve joined a CSA this summer – by the way, the fresh veggies have been AWESOME.  The owners of the CSA send us a weekly email which lets us know what to expect in our share and identifies uncommon vegetables.  Well, in the email from last week, they shared with us that one of their friends from Seldom Seen Farm was struck by lightning while working in the field picking onions.  This 28-yr-old woman (with a husband and small child) has been placed  in a medically induced coma, but is breathing on her own which is good news.  I’m sure she woke up that morning thinking it was going to be a normal day.

Both of these stories just reminded me (again) that life can change literally in the blink of an eye.  It’s so cliché to say, but it’s true.  Why do I have to read these tales to snap me out of “it’s all about me” bubble?  I can really get on my own nerves!! 

As part of my “What If” endeavor, I’ve got to start working harder on thinking in a new way.  Life is too short and shouldn’t be taken for granted.  Like anything else, it takes commitment and practice, right?  Today, is the beginning (again!).

Wish me luck..