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MY STORY 1 Year Later | |
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| After the Tsunami |
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26 December 2005
After coming within 15 seconds of an almost certain death one year ago today, one of the most common questions I am asked is "How did that experience change your perspective on life?" To answer that question, I look back on how I have lived during this past year.
As all people realize who come so close to loosing everything, the only thing that really matters is life. While it is nice to have physical things without life none of those things matter. In recognition of this simple premise, I try to make the most of life, by continuing to travel, mixing work with play when possible, and developing new hobbies.
After returning from Thailand, I spent some additional time traveling, spending a month in Peru exploring the Amazon and climbing peaks high in the Andes. In May I came into possession of a new sailboat and have sailed almost every weekend since then. Beginning in July I started working again as an attorney. Although I currently work for a law firm, I continue to explore other career opportunities.
As for the future, I am sure the lessons from the tsunami will stay with me forever. Not one day has gone by where I have not somehow been reminded of the traumatic and overwhelming events of one year ago. I have not been able to answer the question as to why I survived when over 223,000 people did not, inlcuding the fact that 80% of Thailand's tsunami casualties occured in Khao Lak.
Video - Tsunami receeding from Khao Lak - view behind Birza resort; "I think the worst is over."
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Life Goes On
Video - Tsunami receeding from Khao Lak - woman floating in the water clinging to mattress; white noise is actually sound of rushing water receeding; this sound went on for almost 2 hours (5.3MB, 18 seconds)
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Copyright © 2006 John M. Thompson | Contact jmt@pon.net for photo use permission and questions/comments.
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