Near Death: On the Edge of a Second Chance

An experience I never expected to happen.

That morning felt so normal. I had plans, planned to play tennis with a friend, and had my usual targets. But Tuesday morning changed everything.

I got into an accident. For context, it was a road accident, and it all happened in seconds, too fast for my mind to process.

My tennis friend had just graduated, and that morning I wanted to make a memorable moment before she went back home. But suddenly, that day felt surreal.

I can’t fully describe the exact moment of the accident. The shock made me freeze. I paused, slowly processing what happened, and started reflecting on life, legacy, and what truly matters.

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This experience reminded me that everything in this world is temporary. I said “near-death” not because it truly felt like dying, but because it felt dreamlike, knowing that if things had gone a little worse, maybe I wouldn’t be here anymore, I mean, I'm not trying to sound dramatic, but that things could've ended so differently, I could've died, or lived with a lifelong injury, it could lead to paralysis. Even, I can't imagine if that happened.

But I’m still here. Allah saved me.

Every time. And maybe again.

This reminds me of one verse in the Qur’an,

“Kullu nafsin dzaa’iqotul maut” — every soul will taste death.

And I kept asking myself, “How do I want to be remembered?”

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Who knew this would happen?

Last week, everything seemed fine.

One of the highlights was being invited as both a reviewer and a guest speaker for a book review session.

I shared insights from How to Win Friends and Influence People with some students at my university. The book emphasizes meaningful relationships and positive influence. At the end, because there was a worksheet, one of the sections was designed to encourage them to think about the legacy they want to leave,

Because I believe influencing people isn’t always about your title. And definitely, you can inspire others through your story.

Sometimes we underestimate the power of our own stories or storytelling, but they can move people’s hearts to do kind things, just like you did, or to pursue the missions they believe in.

I’m grateful to know their dreams. I remember some of them wanting to build foundations. Knowing that people are thinking beyond themselves made me feel happy and relieved, because it means more kind, thoughtful people are emerging, and maybe they’re already here.

I listened closely, speechless in my heart. And I’m rooting for them to achieve their dreams.

It’s easy to underestimate our own stories, but they can inspire others in ways we might never know.

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After the accident, I felt vulnerable, in pain, and confused. Some parts of my body hurt, with bruises and scratches. I took my time cried alone, tried to process it, and I received kindness from friends, strangers, and my parents were there for me. My close friends visited me. And the strangers? They didn’t know me, but they helped me.

These people showed me that legacy and kindness don’t always start big, they can begin with how we show up for others.

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It felt like a turning point.

October and November were full of transitions, joy, achievements, sadness, fleeting moments. And now, in early December, this accident happened.

I thought about people whose lives changed after big events, stories I heard years ago.

Ali Banat with his MATW Project, dedicating his wealth to Africa.

Iwan Sunito, whose accident shifted his whole direction.

Their stories once felt distant, but now I understand a small piece of what they must have felt.

Maybe this reminds me of my own life.

Maybe it reminds me of my dreams.

Maybe it reminds me to really work on the legacy I want to leave.

I'm currently in the middle of my recovery.

This accident might be a chance, a nudge to reflect, slow down, and realign my life and dreams. Maybe it left me a bit traumatized to drive, sadness still comes unexpectedly, but I choose to be gentle with myself, to give myself space and time.

I remind myself, my body may be slightly off, but my mind is still mine. I can still make progress, even in small steps.

I choose to acknowledge vulnerability, calm my nervous system, and see this as a chapter, not the whole story.

Maybe this is another chance, one of many that life has quietly given me.

We never truly know “how many times we’ve been saved”.

We never know, how many accidents, harms, or unseen things we've actually been saved from.

And so, I move forward, aware of life’s fragility, conscious of my dreams, and determined to leave a meaningful legacy.

In the end, everything in this world is temporary. Every moment matters. And sometimes, it takes nearly losing everything to realize how precious it truly is.

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May everything heal quickly. Since this is quite a serious injury, I still can't go back to my usual activities, not yet, including tennis, which is considered a heavy-intensity sport.

But, I can’t wait to play tennis again with my friends, my dad, and my brother.

And maybe after this, my mind will shift in many ways.

If you’re reading this blog, I want you to remember that you have a precious life, despite whatever struggles you’re facing.

We only live once, and that hits me so deeply.

Maybe people don’t tell you this enough, but maybe you impact their lives and their memories in positive way. And maybe it’s not as small as you think.

Sometimes it’s bigger than you’ll ever realize.

So, live your life.

And..

how do you want to be remembered?