POST NEAR DEATH.

I always believe that there are two distinct types of people on this world. People who have had a near death experience. And those who have not. People who come close to death come away with varying feelings. Some need professional therapy. Some come away with a renewed perspective. But no matter what, it changes a person. Forever. Different things also reel through the mind for different people.

I've had a near death experience. To make a long story short, it involved me getting lost by myself in the Andes Mountains on a snowboarding trip for 6 hours. It was torture. If you're in a car crash or plane crash, you hear about the "life flashing before my eyes" sensation. It's quick. And violent. But during my ordeal, it was like Chinese water torture. It was a long drawn out version of your day of reckoning. Your mind has time to run the entire gamut of emotions. Anxiety. Fear. Nervousness. Panic. Hunger. Dehydration. Anger. Self-doubt. Forgiveness. Despair. Apathy. Redemption. It's truly an amazing experience to have the opportunity to dig your own grave. The recent US Airways air crash into the Hudson River prompted the NY Times to write an article about the survivors and what they were going through. And how it will change them forever. If you can manage to get yourself into a near death experience, I highly recommend it. So long as you're sure you can get yourself out.

If you'd had any near death experiences, please share them...

僕がいつも思うのは、この世に２種類の人がいます。死にそうな体験をした人。そして、していない人。死を直面したあと、さまざまな結果がでます。精神治療が必要な人。新しい人生観を見出す人。でも、それが何であれ、人を変えます。永遠に。人によっては頭によぎる事も違ってきます。

僕も死にそうな体験をしました。完結にいうと、スノーボードの旅でアンデス山脈を一人で６時間迷いました。拷問でした。交通事故や飛行機墜落などを体験した人は、「人生が走馬灯のように見える」事をよく聞きます。一瞬に。そして、残酷に。でも、僕の場合は中国の水拷問のようでした。最後に迎える日が長く続きました。脳がさまざまな感情を引き出す時間がありました。不安。恐怖。緊張。パニック。空腹。脱水。怒り。自信喪失。許し。絶望。無関心。救い。自分の墓を掘る機会はめったにないすごい経験です。先日のUS Airwaysのハドソン川の墜落が起きた後、 ニューヨークタイムスの記事で生存者たちが何を経験したかを記載しました。そして、その経験がどのように彼らを永遠に変えるか。死にそうな経験ができるのであれば、僕はお勧めします。ただし、死なないという確かな条件で。もし同じような経験をした人はぜひ教えてください。