Yes! Nice one! I know I'm living my own Hero's Journey. Perusing writing sites and boards, I see where people discuss whether or not a writer is more interesting when they've had to deal with that Darkness. Some sort of trauma, life or death, that can really set you apart. Is that needed? I personally think it adds to the writing. A layer of perception that makes you view the world as something special, sacred, and fleeting. Conflict/Adversity always leads to some sort of change. It's up to us whether or not that change builds our character, or tears it down.