Literature
Still alive.
Closeness to death put things in perspective.
I wish I could tell what does that mean to me that I've survived pneumonial embolism but I'm sure that very few could understand what it really means not to give up, to fight for your own survival. Not just medicines can keep one alive but will is an important thing, too.
Maybe some of you when hear this particular 'survival' word, an image of a great and proud warrior pops up in your mind, who is badly wounded but still continue to fight til the end, no matter what. Maybe it's not without reason but I believe that fantasies can not live up to reality. In our modern world, there are trials too.