In retrospect, the heater breaking down on me was the best thing that could have happened.
It was what they call a “moment of clarity” or “a come-to-Jesus moment” depending on your religious beliefs. I was snowbound in a remote cabin in the foothills, with no electricity or cell service. It would take days at least before I could get out or anyone else could get in. The old cabin was sturdy, but drafty, and I needed some heat. The place came equipped with an old natural gas heater that required no electricity. Alas, the heater was broken, so I had no means of keeping myself warm. There was a fireplace, and I found an ax, so I had to brave the cold and trudge through the snow to cut firewood. As I froze my nips off in the snow, chopping wood, I thought back to how I had always taken heating for granted. Every house I had ever lived in, or even visited, had central heating. I had always assumed that any time I needed warmth I could just twist the knob on the thermostat to get more comfortable. Those few days in the cabin, constantly feeding the fireplace for some semblance of heat, really changed my perspective. What else besides heating was I taking for granted? Clean water, fresh air, the availability of food? Unlike a furnace, I couldn’t just turn on the fireplace and walk away, I had to sit beside it and tend the fire constantly. By the time it was over I had lost a few pounds, and gotten a new perspective on life.