In retrospect, the oil furnace chopping 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 lodge in the foothills, with no electricity or cell service. It would take afternoons at least before I could get out or anyone else could get in. The old lodge was sturdy, but drafty, in addition to I needed some heat. The locale came equipped with an old natural gas oil furnace that required no electricity, then alas, the oil furnace was broken, so I had no means of keeping myself warm. There was a fireplace, in addition to I found an ax, so I had to brave the cold in addition to 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 constantly taken heating for granted, every home I had ever lived in, or even visited, had central heating. I had constantly assumed that any time I needed warmth I could just twist the knob on the temperature control to get more comfortable. Those few afternoons in the lodge, 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 oil furnace, I couldn’t just turn on the fireplace in addition to walk away, I had to stand beside it in addition to tend the fire constantly, however by the time it was over I had lost a few pounds, in addition to gotten a new perspective on life.