The chance to start again...

The chance to start again...

It was late on a Sunday evening in October, just over three and a half years ago. I was driving alone along the M1, a freeway heading back to London after spending a bit of time up in Manchester.

I had travelled the route many times before and relished the moments alone to reflect upon life.

To keep myself from getting hungry on my journey, I had stopped into a truck stop to pick up some supplies.

To keep myself from falling asleep, I wound down the window to let air circulate around the cabin of the car.

And to keep myself from getting bored, I cranked up the radio and did my best to sing in tune.

The journey was unfolding better than expected…

The limited amount of traffic was flowing freely and it looked like I was going to make it back to London in record time.

And then came the moment that would change my life forever…

As I drove down the freeway I hit the accelerator hard to overtake a large road truck as I had already done many times before that evening.

Just as I was about to move into the clear, I felt my car shudder. It took a split second for me to realise that I had been hit.

Before I knew it, my car was spinning uncontrollably across 6 lanes of traffic at great speed.

My entire life flashed right in front of my eyes…

In the moment of impact I saw my entire life flash right in front of my eyes. The incident unfolded in slow motion... And then everything went blank.

Seconds later I regained consciousness. I had crashed my vehicle into a dirt mound by the side of the freeway. Miraculously I hadn't connected with any of the on coming traffic. I quickly scanned my body to make sure that I was all in one piece. Much to my surprise I didn’t have so much as a scratch.

As I climbed out of the wreck I looked ahead and saw that the truck driver had pulled over to the side of the road. By the look on his face I could tell that he was almost as relieved as I was.

He spoke Portuguese without any English and I spoke English without any Portuguese. He offered me some water and I gratefully accepted. We then sat together in silence in the warmth of his truck waiting for the police to arrive.

The luckiest guy he had ever met.

A highway police officer arrived on the scene around 10 minutes later.

Together we walked the 50 metres back down the freeway to examine what was left of my car. When I talked him through what had happened he told me in no uncertain terms that I was the luckiest guy that he had ever met.

He qualified his statement by saying it was his job to go up and down the freeway picking up body parts.

When I awoke the next morning…

When I awoke the next morning, I was still in a groggy state of shock and disbelief about what had happened the night before. And to be honest, I was also feeling a little sorry for myself as well.

And then, quite magically, I had a moment of absolute clarity.

I was still alive.

I stood breathless... I was actually still alive.

In that moment I fully understood that I had an incredible opportunity to start my life over. I had an opportunity to spend the rest of my life doing the things that truly inspired me. I had an opportunity to make my life a true reflection of everything I hoped and dreamed about.

In reflection since that day...

In reflection since that day, I have come to realise that every moment holds that opportunity. All anyone ever needs to do is to step up and embrace it.