People often ask me if my life changed after I nearly died, and I explain to them, that I used to look at life as an adventure hiking through beautiful mountains towering above me and the valley I’m walking in is filled with Indian Paintbrush flowers, mountain lilies, and a myriad of other flowers.
After nearly dying in the Grebe Valley flood, I view life as that same mountain valley and meadow, but now realize I am walking on a narrow trail and you never know when you could fall off. Life is both good or bad, happy and sad, and it is also truly short. Life is precious so you must treasure every moment.
This book has been a walk down memory lane as I have relived so many memories of so many wonderful people. With the help of google and LinkedIn, I have reconnected with a number of people I met on this wonderful adventure. Unfortunately, I still have not found “Dr. Bob” Bob Knopf, my Dutch friend, pictured above with me, who I hiked with and became my kindred spirit on this trip.
Finding me in New Zealand – Who I am emerged in my writing this book.
I am glad I waited to write this book because what emerged from the journals through my editing in 2020 and 2021 were the themes that are still important to me today that I’m not sure I ever noticed before.
Themes like, my love for writing, family, meditation / mindfulness, slowing down and being in the moment, working at being comfortable with self, low value of material goods, the importance of health, love for the outdoors, interest in meeting new people/cultures, concern for my weight, having met my guardian angel who still watches over me today, and the importance of trusting your hunches and instincts, honesty and truth, independence, humor and creating a fun-loving life.
All of these were important to the 27-year-old Jim Peacock and are important to me today. The adventure of finding me in New Zealand was filled with wonderful people I met along the way, great tramps, and a near-death experience that solidified all that I believe in.
If you do read my book, I would love to know what you think about it.
And if Bob Knopf is out there somewhere, lets do another hike together.