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Moments of Epiphany
We have all had those moments when the world stops and we have that epiphany. Something causes a revelation where you realize a truth - things become clear or simplified. It causes you to look at the world differently. And it doesn’t just make you stop and think, it is the catalyst that turns your thoughts into action and you make things better. And things are never the same.
Tell us when about your moments of epiphany. What moment caused you to simplify, improve, or jump start your life? You can also check out other people’s moments on this page.
(14)
| (1) Bettina | |||
| Sat, 5 July 2008 19:34:18 -0400 |
When I decided to stop lying to myself. I wasn't 25 anymore I am 36!! Things will not get done by themselves no matter how much I wish they would. I am the one to make it happen. So that's what I'm doing!
| (2) lester | |||
| Mon, 12 May 2008 12:55:17 -0400 |
last november, when i was in china, i TRULY realized the power of a smile. sometimes in advertently, sometimes intended, i made eye contact with 100s of chinese. as a gaze locked, i would instinctively offer a grin. during our 12 day trip, all but ONE person acknowledged my actions. a visceral reaction, nearly all returned my gesture with kindness ...and some with adorable blushing embarrassment. 
no governments. no "haves and have nots". no language barriers. ...just people.
now, when i make eye contact with anyone, i offer a smile.
no governments. no "haves and have nots". no language barriers. ...just people.
now, when i make eye contact with anyone, i offer a smile.
| (3) daddy-o | |||
| Thu, 8 May 2008 15:55:51 -0400 |
Visiting my son last fall, he mentioned his epiphany: when he was in Jerusalem a number of years ago and approached the Wall, he was overwhelmed with his Judaism which led to his becoming Orthodox. (His first thought was that he wanted to live in Israel but his wife quickly put that away.)
For me, my obvious life changing moments were my wifegetting sick, her death and my cancer. I think we talked about how I look at life so differently, appreciating the here and now and living for the moment. These things shrink the mundane, raise the personal family and friend relationships and truly allow me to live for the moment. I didn’t think I would ever be able to do that, but it is satisfying.
A less obvious, but profound, epiphany for me was experiencing true selflessness. Most of my life I did what I thought was best for me and was, in part, motivated by selfishness. People who donate great amounts of money to good causes are certainly benefiting society, but in part they may be motivated by recognition. Even those who give as an anonymous donor while closer to a pure selflessness may have a motive of being able to brag to their close friends or of keeping other charities off their backs.
I am talking about the few things where you can put yourself in the other’s shoes, do something, even small, for them and probably never see them again. There is something pure about that which has given me great inner satisfaction. (So maybe it’s not so selfless after all!) An example: A number of years ago I was waiting for a plane probably in Chicago. I overheard a young man from Europe in his marginal English trying to find out how he could use the telephone for a long distance call to tell his contact he had arrived. Very frustrated, tired and anxious he was getting nowhere. He had no proper phone card and no US cash. I walked up to him and beckoned him to the pay phone. Using my ATT phone card I dialed his number and handed him the phone. (Probably mumbling that he shouldn’t talk too long.) I think about this occasionally as something that had a strong affect on me; I was able to truly reach out to "my fellow man" and it felt good. Ten or twenty years ago I may have been "too busy" for this kind of action; but it taught me a lot about the importance of my relationship to friends, family and strangers.
For me, my obvious life changing moments were my wifegetting sick, her death and my cancer. I think we talked about how I look at life so differently, appreciating the here and now and living for the moment. These things shrink the mundane, raise the personal family and friend relationships and truly allow me to live for the moment. I didn’t think I would ever be able to do that, but it is satisfying.
A less obvious, but profound, epiphany for me was experiencing true selflessness. Most of my life I did what I thought was best for me and was, in part, motivated by selfishness. People who donate great amounts of money to good causes are certainly benefiting society, but in part they may be motivated by recognition. Even those who give as an anonymous donor while closer to a pure selflessness may have a motive of being able to brag to their close friends or of keeping other charities off their backs.
I am talking about the few things where you can put yourself in the other’s shoes, do something, even small, for them and probably never see them again. There is something pure about that which has given me great inner satisfaction. (So maybe it’s not so selfless after all!) An example: A number of years ago I was waiting for a plane probably in Chicago. I overheard a young man from Europe in his marginal English trying to find out how he could use the telephone for a long distance call to tell his contact he had arrived. Very frustrated, tired and anxious he was getting nowhere. He had no proper phone card and no US cash. I walked up to him and beckoned him to the pay phone. Using my ATT phone card I dialed his number and handed him the phone. (Probably mumbling that he shouldn’t talk too long.) I think about this occasionally as something that had a strong affect on me; I was able to truly reach out to "my fellow man" and it felt good. Ten or twenty years ago I may have been "too busy" for this kind of action; but it taught me a lot about the importance of my relationship to friends, family and strangers.
| (4) esmer | |||
| Thu, 8 May 2008 13:21:17 -0400 |
Growing old with someone.... Watching my parents still in love after 58 years.... And enjoying life,,,,,traveling, golfing etc... I want that....
| (5) PLis | |||
| Thu, 8 May 2008 13:11:07 -0400 |
My son's birth. This was my biggest defining moment in my life. Nothing else seems to compare........ All of a sudden, I had a bigger purpose in life...
Other big moments:
-College Graduation
-Traveling to a new country
-Finally accomplishing a big goal (running a 10K faster than the last, yet knowing you will need to train harder for the next race)
-When I decided to buy my own place vs waiting for Mr Right (thank god he came around)
Other big moments:
-College Graduation
-Traveling to a new country
-Finally accomplishing a big goal (running a 10K faster than the last, yet knowing you will need to train harder for the next race)
-When I decided to buy my own place vs waiting for Mr Right (thank god he came around)
| (6) LK | |||
| Wed, 7 May 2008 16:31:11 -0400 |
I think seeing my mother pass away was the moment that changed my life. Things made sense in a different way than they had before.
On a more positive note, I think my strongest moments of clarity are in my yoga class when I'm completely engrossed in the practice, and the instructor says something that resonates with me, and it enables me to go to another plane. I am totally at peace with the world in those moments ... and I feel totally content with whatever else is happening in my life. I see life for what it is ... I feel empowered ... It's truly incredible.
On a more positive note, I think my strongest moments of clarity are in my yoga class when I'm completely engrossed in the practice, and the instructor says something that resonates with me, and it enables me to go to another plane. I am totally at peace with the world in those moments ... and I feel totally content with whatever else is happening in my life. I see life for what it is ... I feel empowered ... It's truly incredible.
| (7) Carguy | |||
| Wed, 7 May 2008 16:29:21 -0400 |
How about graduation from HS or College?
How about returning from visiting a friend or relative in the hospital?
How about funerals? Eulogies? Christenings? Bar/Bat Mitzvah's?
Landing in the US for the first time as an emigrant?
How about returning from visiting a friend or relative in the hospital?
How about funerals? Eulogies? Christenings? Bar/Bat Mitzvah's?
Landing in the US for the first time as an emigrant?
| (8) Gunner | |||
| Tue, 6 May 2008 16:36:24 -0400 |
a young child witnessing for the first time, one his parents getting appreciated...winning an award, doing something really cool where others take notice.
this could be a big thing (think Mark McGuire hugging his kid at homeplate after hitting #61)
--or--
...it can be a perceived 'minor' accomplishment, but from the eyes of the kid, it could be huge..i.e
- a proud 5 yr old watching his dad get cheers at the closing of play
- a proud 5 yr old listening/watching his dad/mom talk and 'wow' his class during a 'bring a parent to school' day. Of course, the parent is sitting in one of those tiny 1st grade desks, legs everywhere.
- a proud child watching his dad/mom coach a swim team and win a big meet and get doused
what's kinda a cool is that it came shown from either POV, the parent's or the child's--or both. The parent could be looking back at the kid and seeing his/her approval, and/or vice versa.
this could be a big thing (think Mark McGuire hugging his kid at homeplate after hitting #61)
--or--
...it can be a perceived 'minor' accomplishment, but from the eyes of the kid, it could be huge..i.e
- a proud 5 yr old watching his dad get cheers at the closing of play
- a proud 5 yr old listening/watching his dad/mom talk and 'wow' his class during a 'bring a parent to school' day. Of course, the parent is sitting in one of those tiny 1st grade desks, legs everywhere.
- a proud child watching his dad/mom coach a swim team and win a big meet and get doused
what's kinda a cool is that it came shown from either POV, the parent's or the child's--or both. The parent could be looking back at the kid and seeing his/her approval, and/or vice versa.
| (9) marg | |||
| Tue, 6 May 2008 16:06:36 -0400 |
Having a baby is a big epiphany moment that I can think of and I was fortunate to experience it 3 times. To think that a child came from our creation and so dependent on us for the first many years of life is amazing! On the other hand, death of my sister at age 32 yrs, tells you how fragile life is and the importance of enjoying your life now!! The cup is half full, not half empty, life goes on,why not enjoy it!
| (10) teach | |||
| Tue, 6 May 2008 15:47:54 -0400 |
When I "realized" I was gay, I was in a paid workshop and when I "realized" I wanted to be a teacher. Both realizations happened at the same time... career and senf.
| (11) Stacy | |||
| Tue, 6 May 2008 11:57:15 -0400 |
Oh my gosh I have no clue! Maybe provide an example to help stimulate ideas? my examples of simplifying are along the lines of "less pillows on the bed" and "shorter commute to preschool". Don't think that's quite what you are looking for...
| (12) Lara and Steve | |||
| Tue, 6 May 2008 11:55:58 -0400 |
the moment jericho was diagnosed with leukemia, our lives changed. being in the hospital 24 hours a day for the first few days - and then a little less for the next few weeks - really showed us what was important in life. i think we both have more patience and don't sweat the small stuff as much.
| (13) matty | |||
| Tue, 6 May 2008 11:54:06 -0400 |
Seakayaking in the summer of 2004
More specifically on the second point the moment of epiphany, the story follows:
We were on day 3 of a seven day Tofino trip off the west coast of Vancouver Island. To paint the picture, this is a place that is essentially untouched by mankind except those indigenous to the areas. Just picture old growth forest islands that fall off into miles of sand beach and rolling waves, just pure natural wild. The pinnacle of the trip was to reach our most isolated point at the place called Cow Bay ( a 4 mile long open ocean sand beach with the perfect arc). This was something out of a movie except the water was about 35 degrees farenheit. We get to the only accessible spot about 3 Miles away and hiked into the beach. When I saw it for the first time, the description of breathtaking would not even do it justice. There weren’t even week old footsteps on this beach (I realized I had never seen a beach without footsteps on it before) – it was like the world just disappear and that I was the only person left on it. So, from there, being a man of the water, I proceeded to strip down naked, and run into the waves on this beach in the middle of nowhere. Spent about half an hour out there. Right about the time that my nutz were floating somewhere near my adam’s apple, I got out and air dried in the 90 degree sun and ocean breeze only to be struck by the true feeling of Purity. But it was then that I started to set out my plans and kick my life into high gear. The next years I killed my exams and internships, went traveling to a country I had always wanted to go to (Turkey), and secured a pretty sweet job. Most of all, my approach to life had changed whereas before I was an adolescent male who knew everything except for how to really learn and apply the new knowledge. After that point, I became the adult male who took a learning approach to life vs. a know-it-all approach. Likely the best thing that ever happened. It now strikes me very hard when the know-it-all comes back (as you have likely witnessed), but that’s what keeps me in check.
More specifically on the second point the moment of epiphany, the story follows:
We were on day 3 of a seven day Tofino trip off the west coast of Vancouver Island. To paint the picture, this is a place that is essentially untouched by mankind except those indigenous to the areas. Just picture old growth forest islands that fall off into miles of sand beach and rolling waves, just pure natural wild. The pinnacle of the trip was to reach our most isolated point at the place called Cow Bay ( a 4 mile long open ocean sand beach with the perfect arc). This was something out of a movie except the water was about 35 degrees farenheit. We get to the only accessible spot about 3 Miles away and hiked into the beach. When I saw it for the first time, the description of breathtaking would not even do it justice. There weren’t even week old footsteps on this beach (I realized I had never seen a beach without footsteps on it before) – it was like the world just disappear and that I was the only person left on it. So, from there, being a man of the water, I proceeded to strip down naked, and run into the waves on this beach in the middle of nowhere. Spent about half an hour out there. Right about the time that my nutz were floating somewhere near my adam’s apple, I got out and air dried in the 90 degree sun and ocean breeze only to be struck by the true feeling of Purity. But it was then that I started to set out my plans and kick my life into high gear. The next years I killed my exams and internships, went traveling to a country I had always wanted to go to (Turkey), and secured a pretty sweet job. Most of all, my approach to life had changed whereas before I was an adolescent male who knew everything except for how to really learn and apply the new knowledge. After that point, I became the adult male who took a learning approach to life vs. a know-it-all approach. Likely the best thing that ever happened. It now strikes me very hard when the know-it-all comes back (as you have likely witnessed), but that’s what keeps me in check.
| (14) Wank | |||
| Fri, 2 May 2008 14:08:57 -0400 |
How many years of misery did I rot away in a dark room working on other people's ideas? Probably about 8. It's easy to get complacent. The epiphany came one day when I came home to my wife and kids in a crappy mood. Then I realized: I'm not just miserable, I'm not being a great dad because frustration, misery and depression about work affect all parts of life. The result of my moment of epiphany was the drive to start a company with Todd and be completely satisfied at work... which makes me a happier dad...
