Why would Matt send out a SELFIE?
…when our feeds are chock full of them.
It’s not even very good. Or interesting. (and WOW my head is shiny)
Ok – story time. You see the other day I was in the city walking – when I stopped.
I had a moment.
I took this photo…but I need to go back further: (warning, this is long)
Some of you know I used to be a social worker. I actually had my first full time gig in Redfern 15 yrs ago. It was great, and my office was a few doors down from this spot, the corner of George and Cleveland St. Back then I just invested in property on the side, it was a hobby more than anything else, but I loved it, along with my first passion which has always been working with interesting people. I was newly married and the world was in front of me.
3 years into that job, I was driving to work, coming along cleveland st about to turn left onto George St. The traffic was only doing 50km/h but there was a lot of it.
A pedestrian stepped out in front of me just as I was turning.
I jammed on the brakes.
I stopped. (thank goodness) I saw her face out my windscreen she looked relieved and sheepish. She new it was her fault.
Then it happened.
SLAM.
A B-Double truck right behind me slammed into and completely consumed the back of my corolla. It was sent spinning across the intersection.
I can still remember the instant pale look of horror on her face as the pedestrian watched my car violently spinning in front of her, no, towards her. I think I missed taking out her knee caps by about 5cm.
I spent 6 weeks in physio for my neck, but made a full recovery. No one was permanently injured, or worse killed – thank God. The rest was a blur.
Back then I had dreams, but I was uncertain. I had plans but no confidence. I didn’t know how life would pan out.
Then the other day when I walked that road – I had a full on flashback to that accident. I felt the emotion, re-lived the moment, it was involuntary. Then completely out of the blue I felt gratitude wash over me like a wave.
You see, I am lucky, or blessed, or whatever the right word is. A very patient loyal woman loves me, and I have 4 incredible children who (sort of) put up with my dad jokes. I think back to that young man who got spun across the intersection by that truck and I think life could have panned out so many different ways. I am so grateful to be right where I am right now. I’m not trying to make light of the trials or tragedies, they happen too. But really things are way better than I deserve.
If you are like me there is always another goal to set. But for now maybe we should both take a moment to be thankful for the journey thus far. For the good stuff, and the hard stuff.
I guess this is like a really late New Years reflection, and I am saying thanks. Thanks to the amazing clients who I get to work with, to friends, family, God.
I sincerely hope you can find a bit of that feeling too, somehow, even when things are hard.
And sorry about the ramble. (not to mention the selfy!)
Matt
PS – In case you were wondering will I talk about property? Yes, I’m itching to share a few ideas next time. I actually have a few ideas I want to share with you and get some feedback if that is ok?
