This past year I was hit in the head by a baseball bat. For real. I was just standing there at a softball philanthropy event, minding my own business when out of nowhere a force rocked my head and left me dazed, bloody and confused.

Fortunately I ended up being alright, just a few staples in the head and a slight concussion and I was good to go. In my mind I played it off as something fairly insignificant, just a random accident that ruined my Saturday night.

However, I didn’t realize how lucky I was until a few days after the incident. Had my head been turned a few inches to the left, the bat would have smashed across my entire face. If my friend hadn’t been standing behind me with an umbrella, the bat would have hit me with all its force. An inch or two lower and it would have hit either the side of my head or my neck, neither of which is as durable as the top of the head.

Of course, after all those realizations came crashing down, I might have had a minor panic attack. The idea that some random event, one which I in no way brought on, could seriously injure me at any moment was pretty intimidating. Right then, as I was packed full of pain meds on my couch, I decided that I had no need to ever leave the safety of said couch again.

Of course, I blame that moment of fear on a combination of pain meds and being concussed, but still there was some small epiphany that accompanied the experience; accidents happen and there is no way to avoid them. Even if I sat on my couch for the rest of my life, more likely than not some accident will befall me.

However, I decided to look at the silver lining of the incident and found there was a lot to be grateful for. For example, even though that bat to the head left me in the hospital, I was still able to walk out of it on my own two feet with a few staples and a scar that is now concealed by my hair. Before the accident I was having a great time with my brothers at an event that was benefiting a charity and still have those memories (and an interesting story) to take away from the experience. 

So in this instance, the risk of an accident was well-worth the experience. It something that I’ve always thought, but this accident really put the idea of going out into the world with the chance of a random accident into perspective. Did I go out that day expecting to get nailed in the head with a baseball bat? Obviously not. Will it be on my mind next time I pick up a baseball bat? Absolutely.

But should the opportunity present itself, I would still head out on the field and play the game again, especially if it is for a good cause. Living a life in fear of what could happen will help you avoid accidents but it will also make you miss out on the many good experiences that come with life.

I think this experience will make me more of a risk-taker rather than more cautioned. The way I see it, I might as well get my fill of life while I can, because who knows when that next baseball bat will come flying through the air to knock me out again.