It started with a tickle in my throat and then I lost my voice. Bedridden for several days and later ended up in one of Seattle’s Urgent Care unit.

I’ve learned that a cold can rapidly progress into bronchitis – and in my case – possibly Whooping Cough. (I’ll get the results early next week.)

I’m no longer contagious because of the antibiotics but I don’t have my voice back and I’m still coughing violently. But in this moment, I am grateful about my health and I will never take it for granted.

While I was sick, there were some hours when I felt like I was dying. I’m not trying to be dramatic but when you feel pressure on your chest and have difficulty breathing, the first thought that runs through your head is, “Is this my last breath?”

The other strange phenomenon that occurred during these moments of panic was a sense of focus on a singular thought. The recurring theme running through my pulsating head was wondering if I am living life the way I want to be. I asked myself, if/when I got better, how do I want to live my life?

The answers were clear…

I want to continue to explore, always learn, laugh, and love with my heart and soul.

And these are the visions I had.

(All unedited photos taken with FujiFilm Finepix X100. Clockwise, San Francisco Ocean Beach, Mono Lake, Olympic Peninsula, Sedona)