I Almost Died...

I have to admit.

I was tempted to write a superficial, "sunshine and rainbows" post as an introduction here.

But I won't.

This platform, Steemit, is truly something different. I already love the community here.

So allow me to strip my inhibitions, and go skinny dipping in your stream of consciousness.

This is part of my story. And it's something that everything can relate to on some level.

We all face struggles. We all get challenged to our breaking point.

And those are the experiences that make us stronger!

Coal turns into a diamond only under intense pressure.

By sharing our experiences, we relate, connect with each other and help each other shine our light.

So that’s why I want to share a story with you..

I was 19 years old.

A lost college kid. Chronically anxious, more overweight than I’ve ever been, craving attention from my peers. I had zero self-confidence and zero direction in life.

I was completely out of touch with my heart, my purpose and my authenticity.

So I partied. And I partied hard. It was partly me trying to be cool, but mostly about escaping from the UNBEARABLE inhibitions and fears I had.

And one day, it all came to a head.

I was at a party at a friends house. And I decided to take shots of liquor, continuously, until I blacked out.

I woke up in the hospital. With no memory of what happened.

It was the morning and I was still drunk. I felt a surreal swirl of drunkenness and guilt.

I don’t remember talking to any doctors. I just remember my friends arriving to pick me up soon after I regained consciousness.

Later, I learned that I had passed out on the hood of a car in a parking lot while trying to walk home. Someone had seen me there at about 5am and called an ambulance.

At the hospital, my blood alcohol content was 0.31. And that was a few hours after I stopped drinking! Anything over 0.40 is basically death, and I’m certain my levels were that high before I passed out on the car.

I must have had a guardian angel. Because how I survived that blows my mind.

The rest of that weekend was filled with phone calls with my mom, dad and other family members. They were scared for my life and just.. sad.

I felt like I let them down. I felt like a burden. I felt like I was causing so much unnecessary pain for them. And that was true!

I was sent to a school psychologist for an evaluation. When I first found out that I needed to get a mental health evaluation, I resisted and downplayed everything. “It’s not a big deal," I thought.

But deep down, I knew that this was a wake up call. I spoke with the psychologist about my intention to pursue health, fitness and self-development. Expressing myself in that way (which I did with my mom also) helped me uncover the lesson in this crazy experience.

So as soon as I was able to really think about what happened with a clear head, I made a firm decision that things HAD to change.

That’s what it took. A FIRM DECISION.

I was at a giant fork in the road of my life. I could keep going down the same path, spiraling downward, or I could choose to create myself in a completely new way.

I chose the latter. Actually, I chose the ladder. Because I started to climb.

I started eating healthier, going to the gym and reading books on personal development and spirituality. Eckhart Tolle and Osho in particular, struck a deep chord with me. They acted as mentors who helped guide me along my new path through their words.

And it didn’t stop there. I kept building momentum. As I got healthier – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually – life started shifting for me.

I become happier, more confident and purposeful.

Where I am today is due to that single firm decision I made. That one pivot to this direction CHANGED EVERYTHING.

And here’s the thing: The “worst” thing that ever happened to me was actually the best thing that ever happened to me.

That wake up call did just that. It woke me up. And ever since then I’ve become more and more conscious, more and more loving, and more and more of a person who positively impacts the lives of others.

I wish to share my light with you. I wish to shine and help you shine too.

I want to spark the infinite genius that is within us all.

We’re all in this together. We’re all connected. We’re all parts of the same whole.

What’s your story? What's been your best worst experience? Feel free to reply below. The simple act of sharing can be absolutely transformative.

Much love.

Stevie P!

Find Me Elsewhere

www.stephenparato.com
www.feelingoodfeelingreat.com
@steviepthatsme