Positive Psychology and a Traumatic House Fire

Last Friday I was busy working in my house at my computer when I smelt burning below me. I rushed downstairs to find that a fire had started in my living room. After a futile few minutes trying to put the fire out I knew that it was time to abandon my home and call the fire brigade.

Half an hour later the fire was out but the whole downstairs of my house was gutted after the temperature had reached 900 degrees. Half and hour was all it took to make my house uninhabitable and turn my life around.

I surveyed the damage, all my CD’s melted, books burnt, TV a shell, surround sound speaker system demolished. The walls were bare brick, the wallpaper as well as the plaster burnt off.

After the paramedics had attached me to their machines I was pronounced fit. The commander of the firemen looked at me, pointing to the debris that was my house, and said  “All that can be replaced, you cannot.”  That was a good observation. My possessions were just material things that I temporarily had to play with. They will be replaced by the insurance company. The house will be re-built.  I am alive when I could have easily perished if I had come downstairs 5 minutes later when the fire was fully raging.

A traumatic experience such as this does bring me up against the impermanence of things in this world as well as the my own mortality. In just a few minutes I became homeless, but I was alive, my only injury being a small burn on my finger which is now healing beneath its bandage.

My study of Positive Psychology has taught me to see the positive side of things, even in apparently negative and traumatic situations.

It is so easy to take life for granted. This experience has made me so grateful. Grateful for my life, grateful for the support of  my friends and particularly my girlfriend with whom I am now staying, grateful that their were no injuries or fatalities in the fire.

I saw the positive side of human nature in the members of the emergency services.The firemen who made sure that I was OK and kept me informed of everything that they were doing. The paramedics who checked me out. They were all positive people doing their best for me and the situation.

I met the commander of the firemen the next day. He was handing out free smoke alarms to everyone in the street. I thanked him for all that he had done – but he said that he was only doing his job. I wish that we all could be so compassionate when ‘only doing our jobs.’

So, I carry on. Positive Self Development is up and running again today after relocating its offices from my home to premises 23 miles away. Life is precious and I am thankful to be alive and healthy.

Posted by Stephen Williamson