Reality check.

Sometimes, things happen to us in life that are hard to explain. You hope to make these experiences sound better than what they are, or you hope to tone them down in your retelling of them. 

Yet sometimes, all you can do is say exactly what happened. No embellishments, no editing necessary. Bluntness is often unavoidable if you want to tell the truth. 

Thursday morning, I was hit by a car. 

That's it. That's the very cold, hard truth of the matter. It doesn't make any sense to precede those six words with any other explanation. 

As I was walking to my 8 a.m. class (that I was most likely running late for), I crossed the street in front of my apartment building thinking that all was clear as all the cars at the intersection closest to me were stopped. I had assumed too much, however, when the light changed and I was almost all the way across the road. 

A car had accelerated into its turn, hit me on my left side, and I went flying through the air. I can't tell you what I was thinking in those few moments between hearing the resounding thud of the metal colliding with my body and hitting the asphalt. My mind wandered to places that I hope it never has to wander again, thinking of those closest to me and what this could mean for my future. 

Somehow, I stood up immediately after landing on my left side. Adrenaline was most likely my saving grace, with the help of God. I can't be thankful enough that nothing worse happened than the injuries I suffered, which consisted of soreness, bruising, a few scrapes and road rash. 

I find myself thinking constantly about what could have been, and immediately praying with gratitude for His love. It was so hard to call my parents right after it happened. It was 5 a.m. in California and I woke them up crying, saying I was hit by a car. I'm so thankful nothing worse happened if only for them, as they must have felt so helpless 3,000 miles away. 

This was a striking reminder to me about the fragility of life. We are constantly overwhelmed with reports on the news of murders and injuries at the top of every hour, but we never think that something similar could happen to us. 

We are only human. Life is precious, and it is constantly fleeting. The best moments always are, which is all the more reason that we need to appreciate them. While my accident may have been minor, it has inspired so much more within me. 

Say 'I love you' at the end of every conversation. Call your parents every day. Don't wait to tell someone something because you're worried about what they'll think. Take that extra minute to catch up with a friend. 

Stop, and breathe. Appreciate your surroundings, and where you are in life. We'll never be this young again, and we never know what life may place in front of us. 

//image via Note to Self