I looked up just when the tires hit the shoulder, sending pebbles spinning in every direction. The driver fought with the wheel to turn in the direction of the spin and maneuvered us in such a skillful manner that we managed to avoid crashing into both the guardrail on the opposite side and diving into the ditch and into oncoming traffic. As the car screeched to a stop sideways across two lanes of traffic, I noticed that the navy blue van that was traveling behind us had seen what was happening and reacted quickly enough to slow down and come to a stop before colliding with our vehicle. The driver who had sideswiped us on the expressway had continued on down the road without even so much as a glance back in our direction.

We drove very cautiously to the next exit where we pulled off to examine the damages to the car (which were minor) and checked to see if we were all OK. Other than being quite shaken up, we were fine. The four of us stood in a circle hugging each other and thanking God over and over again. Then, still shaking, we all grabbed our cell phones and called family and friends to let them know what had happened and that we were OK and that, thankfully, we had all escaped what could have been a very serious situation.

When something like this happens, we stop to re-evaluate our lives. After expressing our gratitude to the Universe or whatever we term our Source, we start looking at all the things we’ve been doing and what we hope to accomplish in the future in a much different way. We now have a new lens through which to view our world... and it gives us perspective on what’s really important.

So, what did all this mean? For me, this incident was a metaphor for life. You are cruising along, just minding your own business and wham! Something slides into you and knocks you off your course. You can react in many different ways. How you react will determine the course of the rest of your life. As I looked around after the accident, the grass looked much greener, the sky was bluer, even the sound of traffic and other voices were sweet to my ears. I became super aware of all the things I had been “tuning” out.

This experience gave us all a renewed appreciation for life. It stopped our lives for a brief moment to shake us into reality of how precious and beautiful life really is. It also served as a poignant reminder to not let a single moment go by without expressing gratitude.

Are you appreciating your life? Is there something you could view differently if you knew, for instance, that you only had one day left on this planet? Is there something left unsaid that you would like to say? And is there someone that you haven’t said “I love you” to?

Don’t wait for a close call to shake you into reality. Count your blessings. Express gratitude for everything in your life every day. Renew your friendships.

Re-connect with what’s important.