Death can be a touchy subject.
My take on death is it can be one of the scariest events we’ll ever face, especially when you’re over 90% certain that you won’t make it out of a scenario alive.
I’ve been in a scenario much like this as of two years ago. I took a trip up to Joshua Tree on a 12 hour notice.
Have I ever rock climbed before?
Uh, no…
Did I dress properly or bring the proper equipment?
Uh, no…
Was I prepared for the trip?
Absolutely not.
But I had an opportunity to go with FOUR WOMEN to what I thought was paradise. Being the only guy to go somewhere with four beautiful women, how could I possibly say no?
I couldn’t.
I was under the impression that Joshua Tree was a lavish green field of grass with one gigantic gorgeous tree in the middle.
Boy, was I wrong.
We entered a vacant desert, parked by a rock, set up camp and decided to climb a rock that was probably 50 feet tall. I attempted 3 times to get up on the top rock and almost slipped off all three times. Oh would that have been a painful, I mean… Deadly fall.
Fear didn’t really kick in, until after a few hours when we decided to descend from the rock. In the pitch black night, staring down into an endless pit of darkness, uncertain of how high you are, or even how to get down, while others are panicking, the thought of not making it out alive becomes a highly probable outcome.
You dehydrate quickly, survival instincts kick in, pride goes completely out the window, and all you can focus on is how to make it out of a scenario alive.
The only things that matter in a scenario like this are logic, the humility to ask for help, team work, adrenaline, instinct, strategy, physical strength, and an undying resolve to see another day.
We thought we were doomed. We thought we had no way out. We couldn’t see anything around us nor knew how far above the ground we were.
We would have been dead, if it weren’t for the only other group of campers out there, who had saved our lives and helped us off the rock.
They say your life flashes before your eyes before you die.
I’ve found that to not be the case.
Quite frankly, I’ve almost encountered death in numerous occasions, on the freeway, almost getting into major accidents, being at the wrong place at the wrong time, etc.
All you really imagine before you see death as an evident outcome is the various ways you can fall and you just imagine how excruciatingly painful it will be, or in some cases, it doesn’t even cross your mind. Actually, if you’ve never had a major injury before, the excruciating pain you imagine is probably nothing close to how painful the death would truly be.
After you make it out alive, replenish yourself with water and nutrients, all the adrenaline then rushes through your system, which in turn, then initiates the trigger that then causes your life flash before your eyes.
For a moment, all problems in your life seem minuscule and pointless. Within an hour, you figure out all of your shortcomings and broken relationships and how to resolve them. You understand how poor planning and lack of research can not only ruin a business, but can also ensure that today could possibly be the last day of your life.
You share your love and open your heart with the people who are dearest to you. You create a stronger foundation, envision the road map to your future, and accept the person who you are meant to become. You come to an understanding of how truly sacred and valuable life really is. You achieve true clarity, not bound to opinion, borders or even limitations.
Each of our clocks are clicking away until our last day here, which, in turn, may come at any time. Regret is a very dangerous disease that tears away at our souls. Make sure to take advantage of every moment you are here breathing on earth. Fulfill all of your heart’s true desires, before its too late.
Oh, and by the way, don’t wear dress shoes or heels when you decide to go climb on a rock…
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Originally posted on Quora.
Leonard Kim is Managing Partner at InfluenceTree. At InfluenceTree, Leonard and his team teach you how to build your (personal or business) brand, get featured in publications and growth hack your social media following.