What to do for someone who is injured in a car accident:
An interview with a guy who has lived through it…
Please give a brief synopsis of the difficult life event that you experienced:
At age 20, I was hit head on by a drunk driver and found dead at the scene.
Your Story/The Circumstances:
At age 20, I was on top of the world as one of the best sales reps in my company’s 50-year history, when my car was hit head on by a drunk driver at over 70 miles per hour, and I was found dead at the scene. After six minutes without a heartbeat and six days in a coma, I woke to face the unimaginable reality that I had broken 11 bones, suffered permanent brain damage, and was told by doctors that I might never walk again.
Age at the time: 20
What were some things that others did for you that helped the MOST:
My friends and family were constantly by my side, offering unconditional love, support, and encouragement.
What were the WORST things that others DID or SAID:
My girlfriend broke up with me in the hospital.
What do you WISH someone would have done for you:
There is nothing I wish were different.
Do you have any gift ideas or care package items that would have been helpful/useful during this time?
Nothing comes to mind.
Can you give us some emotional insight to what someone in this situation is feeling/going through:
There was such a myriad of emotions that I experienced in the midst of such a devastating circumstance. With my body broken and permanently scarred, suffering brain damage that was very tangible in the form of significant short-term memory loss, and with my future conditions very uncertain, the most important choice I was faced with was whether or not to accept the things I couldn’t change. I realized that resisting my reality—wishing and wanting my circumstances to be different—would only cause me emotional pain. To the degree that I wasn’t willing to accept my life as it was, would be the degree that I would create pain for myself. It was only when I decided that I would accept all of the things I couldn’t change, not feel sorry for myself, and focus 100% of my energy and emotions on two things: what I was grateful for and what I could do to create the future that I wanted, that I freed myself from the pain that most people suffer during tragedy.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I believe that life’s purpose is twofold: to (unconditionally) love the life we have while we (actively) create the life we want. I think most people either believe both are out of their control or at best, they give up one for the other. I believe to be truly fulfilled and happy we must learn to be love and be grateful for the life we have while we are simultaneously taking daily actions to create the life of our dreams.
We would like to thank Hal Elrod (aka Yo Pal Hal) for his insight into what it’s like to endure a serious car accident with major injuries. Hal’s book Taking Life Head On (a best-seller) makes a perfect gift for anyone looking to create the life they dream of living. Connect with Hal on his blog Miracle Morning or on Facebook or Twitter.
