This is a purely personal post. 
If that is not your thing, I understand, feel free to pass on by.
I write this to help readers know a little about me and why I chose to create the self help blog.
My Story
A few years ago in December 2010, I found myself in hospital with pneumonia and a reasonably serious pulmonary embolism (PE). The PE was caused by a 24” clot in my leg that had migrated to my lung. The initial outlook was definitely not good. When it was over, this hospital visit had cost me roughly two thirds of that lung, but as I am still alive today I have no complaints.
It is true to say however that this time on the ward changed my life in more than one way.
Lying on your back, unable to breathe and expecting to die, focusses the mind wonderfully. Although I do not recommend the experience.
People often say that coming close to death changes your outlook on life. I agree.
This was not the first time I had been in life threatening situations, but it was definitely the first time that I had real opportunity to reflect on the fact. Usually when life is under threat, the adrenaline is pumping and philosophy is not part of the thought process. This time was different. When the guy in the bed next to me had the curtains closed and was wheeled away in the night I finally realised that my situation on the ward was truly serious.
Perhaps I am a slow learner.
In my case I used the time and enforced immobility to reflect on my life. Although I have done many questionable things, they were usually performed with the best intention and information available at the time. I think this situation is common to most people. With experience and wisdom I would not repeat some of the things I did, but you have to act from the knowledge you have. It is probably fair to say that overall I had no regrets about the things I had done.
Death was OK – bring it on.
What I did regret was the things left undone.
Mostly I regretted not having done more positive things. I resolved that if I ever got out of that hospital bed and could lead any kind of normal life thereafter that I would do something positive.
This blog is a small part of that.