uncover and explore who you are through creative writing prompts with the pursuit of Wonder guided Journal. All the ways things could go. The link is in the description. It wasn't clear if Anastasia was going to make it. Her brain had been deprived of oxygen for almost 6 minutes. If she hadn't been found by her roommate, reached by the paramedics, and rushed to the hospital, and placed on life support when she had, she would have certainly already been dead. But now there was still hope. Anastasia's mother, Susan, and her brother, Tyler, sat in the hospital room across from her comatose body. Tubes and wires extended off her face, arms, and hands, connected to life support machines. On the other side, Tyler anxiously scrolled on his phone. Susan stared blankly at her daughter's face. Together, they waited and hoped that Anastasia would wake up from her coma, okay, able to continue on in life and see everything through. Each minute that passed felt like a short lifetime. The combination of dread and hope pulled time in both

directions longing for things to go well, and be over with, and dreading things going poorly, and not wanting to face the future together. These feelings made it feel like time was almost standing still. Susan watched as the second hand struggled on the clock on the wall. Tick, tick, a rustle. Susan looked at the bed. Anastasia's eyes were now open. Oh my God, baby, Susan cried out as she rushed over to the bed, followed by Tyler. Anastasia blinked uncomfortably. Susan rushed out of the room and down the hallway. She returned with a nurse who proceeded to check Anastasia's vitals, run some tests, and adjust various medical equipment. A few moments later, Anastasia's doctor entered the room. Anastasia looked at everyone the same way, confused and disconnected. The doctor proceeded to run several more tests and evaluations, which continued throughout the day. In the several days that followed, Anastasia was going to make it, even more miraculous, it appeared that she was likely going to make more or less a full recovery, except one thing. One thing appeared.

irreparably damaged her memory because she suffered significant brain damage due to respiratory depression or the slowing and shallowing of her breath. According to the doctor, Anastasia appeared to have developed a condition known as retrograde amnesia as a result of this. At least for the foreseeable future, Anastasia could no longer access memories prior to the incident. However, her regular language comprehension, motor skills, intellectual capacity, general temperament, and ability to form new memories would likely remain normal and intact. After several days in the ICU followed by the general ward, Anastasia was discharged from the hospital. On the way home, she stared out the backseat window of her mother's car, Tyler sitting in the passenger seat as Susan drove. Anastasia had moved out of her childhood home several years ago and now lived with three roommates in a fairly small apartment. She hadn't spent much time with her family in a while. She had spent much time doing much of anything in a while. She worked in the service industry, and her life was mostly comprised of

working going out for drinks, and sleeping for obvious reasons. Now she was going to spend the foreseeable future living at home with her mother and brother. Tyler still being in college and living at home. Anastasia hadn't spoken much since she awoke from the coma. Between all the tests, evaluations, and conversations with the doctor, in combination with her memory-impaired disorientation, there hadn't been much of an opportunity for any sort of attempt at a normal conversation. She still didn't even really remember her mother or brother, not really. She had a faint sense of who they were, with a feeling of familiarity and affinity toward them, but she couldn't track the feelings to anything explicit. It was as if she had forgotten about some of the most important people in her life, like she forgot she was loved and cared so deeply about. I still don't really understand, Anastasia suddenly said matter-of-factly, cutting through the silence in the car. She continued looking out the backseat window at the passing trees. What, honey? Susan quickly responded, concerned.

happened to me. Susan quickly and nervously looked over at Tyler. Tyler reciprocated a similar look, only moving his eyes toward his mother with his head down and his mouth clenched. You, you um, you took medications, honey, and it affected your brain. It caused oxygen to stop. No, I get that part, Anastasia quickly interrupted, but why, why what? Susan responded reluctantly. What were the medications for? Let's not worry about that right now, honey. Let's just get you home, okay, okay, Anastasia said, continuing to watch the trees pass. After they arrived home, they directed Anastasia into her childhood bedroom. They gave her some space and left her alone for a little while, leaving the door open so they could hear her from the living room just slightly down the hall. Anastasia lay on her bed, looking around at all the walls, window sills, nightstands, and bureaus. Scattered around the room were photos of Anastasia, her friends, and her family, drawings, posters of music artists, movies, and TV shows, stuffed animals, books.

Sports trophies and other general memorabilia. She didn't recognize any of it. She understood what they were, as in, she understood that they were objects from her past: framings of special moments and people, symbols of achievements, statements of things she liked, but none of it meant anything to her. She didn't feel anything looking at them. Tyler, Anastasia, called out down the hall. Tyler stopped what he was doing and looked at his mother, as if to say, Should I go or you? She looked back at him, as if to say, It's okay, I'm right here if you need anything. Tyler returned to Anastasia's room. Hey, what's going on? he said in a tone similar to what he would use talking to a child. Can I ask you something? Anastasia said. Of course, what's up? These photos and the stuff and everything, they're all mine, right? Tyler looked around. Yeah, this is all your stuff. All this stuff you left behind. At least you have more at your apartment too. Anastasia looked around again. Can you tell me about it? Sure, what?

do you want to know is this the stuff that I like. Yeah, it's some of the stuff you like. At least from when you were a little younger. I think you still like a lot of the same things though. Can you tell me about what I like. Sure, um, well, I know you love music. You always have headphones on. You know, like the most songs and artists out of anyone I've ever met. You're like a human Shazam or something. We could be at a store, bar, restaurant, wherever. And if someone is like, hey, anyone know what song this is, you would know it. Do I have a favorite artist. Anastasia interjected. Um, probably Mac Miller, if I had to guess. Tyler pointed at a poster on the wall that had an image of a man with a double exposure overlay effect. In one layer, the man's eyes were closed. In the other, they were open. At the top, text read Circles. Do you know what I like about it. Um, probably how it makes you feel. Music can cut through the surface and expose those deeper feelings that most

things can't Tyler looked back at the poster that album is really sad but it's beautiful. I think it probably makes you feel connected with life and the artist. Like even if life feels sad, it can still be beautiful, hm Anastasia mumbled before pausing for a moment and continuing to scan around the room. What's that one, she said, pointing at another poster. It was another portrait of a man with a double exposure effect. True Detective, Tyler replied. It's one of your favorite TV shows. You love TV shows. What's it about? It's like a detective show but super dark and like philosophical. The main character is a nihilist or pessimist, whichever, which means he thinks life is mostly pointless and impossible. But I think it sort of works out at the end of the show. Not to spoil it for you. I guess you can kind of watch everything again without knowing. What else, Anastasia asked abruptly. What what else do I like? Oh um a lot of stuff. You love food. You love going out to eat, getting drinks. Do I have a favorite meal?

yeah, a few, Tyler replied with a humorous assuredness and a slight laugh. Pasta, pizza, burritos, steak, what do I like about them? Anastasia responded eagerly. It's hard for me to say. I mean, I like them too. So if I had to say for myself, they almost make you feel warm, comforted, connected with the moment, with life, with the people that you share the meals with. It's weird. It's so simple. It's just something you need to survive, yet it can be so incredible, and we can make it taste so good, Anastasia murmured with her eyes closed. Do I like anything else, or is that it? No, you like more stuff. Drawing, you love to draw. Reading, writing, sunsets, the beach, hanging out with your friends, going shopping, help for several more minutes. Tyler continued describing to Anastasia all the various things that she liked that she had forgotten about. He explained to her, and at least insofar as he knew, why she liked those particular things. Although the explicit memories did not return to Anastasia, slowly but surely, these little

otherwise mundane and simple details began to paint a picture of her life. For her, with each new insight in detail, Anastasia found herself falling more and more in love with the idea of her life, the possibilities of her life. It was as if she was a child rediscovering the possibility of things. So I have a great life, Anastasia said with a somewhat confused tone. Tyler hesitated and looked down. Yeah, I think so. Life can be pretty shitty. I know that as much as anyone, but there's a lot to like. Life is made of those little things you like. I think if you have a few friends, good music, entertainment, a couple things you like to do, I think that's a good life, he looked back up at her. Everybody sees things differently though, I suppose. Everything okay in here? Susan suddenly said, poking her head into Anastasia's room. Yeah, Tyler said unconvincingly. Why don't you go grab some stuff from the car, Tyler? Susan said. Sure, Tyler said, leaving the room. Susan looked at her.

daughter laying there, confused. Anastasia slowly looked up at her mother. Then she said, Why did I do what I did? Susan's eyes began to tear up. She wasn't sure if Anastasia had fully put all the pieces together yet, though it seemed like by now she probably had. I don't know, honey, but it's okay. You're going to be okay, it sounded like Susan was trying to convince herself as much as Anastasia. Am I doomed? Anastasia asked. My life sounds nice, like there's a lot to like, but if I didn't enjoy it before, how will I enjoy it now? Susan breathed in deeply. She cleared a tear from her cheek. Honey, anyone can start new in any moment. The past is gone, let it go. You don't need it, it doesn't need you. Don't try and replicate who you've been or what you've thought just for the sake of consistency. Become who you want to be and see the world how you see best fit. You are not what has happened, you are not what

you've done and how you've seen things you are you right now for the first time and for the first time in every moment to come you can decorate your world in any way you want. You could put the music on, the TV on, pile up all the best books, invite all the best people, order your favorite foods, do the things that make you feel okay, and you could choose to pay attention to these things as they work together to form a tapestry of your life. Simple little details can build into something beautiful, you just have to look. Susan paused for a moment, she pointed behind Anastasia's bed at a large tapestry that hung from the wall. Anastasia turned her head toward it. She stood up on her bed and put her face right up against it, her nose nearly touching the fabric. Then she walked to the end of the bed and looked at it again from a few feet away, then she smiled. I see it, she said. Thank you so much for watching. One of the most important things we can do.

in life, is to pay attention to what we pay attention to. We must understand ourselves and what makes our life feel meaningful and worthwhile. This can, of course, be extremely difficult and unclear, but with the right tools, time, and effort, we can get a bit closer to some semblance of clarity about who we are and what we care about. I created a guided journal designed to help with this process called All the Ways Things Could Go. It uses creative writing and drawing prompts that help you explore your subconscious mind and arrive at new and improved ways of thinking about life and yourself. Rather than starting with a blank page, with this guided journal, you're given thought-provoking prompts designed to stir your creativity and coax out inner thoughts and feelings that might otherwise be hard to access. For example, on page five, you're given the prompt: Write about how your day was today, but how it would have been if you just recently lost one of your senses. Your choice which sense. This is intended to challenge you to consider your experiences from a different condition.

in this case, with the limitation on your perception, almost tricking yourself into discovering the things you value, paying attention to and realizing how incredible a simple sensory experience can truly be. It gets you out of the way so you can better see what you care about. It's available in both hardcover and digital formats. If you're interested, the link is in the description below. And of course, as always, thank you so much for watching in general and see you in the next video.

How to Unf**k Your Mind

Fostering reflection through powerful ideas and stories.

Wonder is the feeling of curiosity and appreciation inspired by something beautiful, inexplicable, or unfamiliar. At Pursuit of Wonder, we create work with the aim of producing that feeling. 

Through video essays, short stories, guided experiences, books, and more, we explore a wide range of topics related to philosophy, psychology, science, literature, well-being, and more. We believe in facing the challenges and complexities of life head-on, and in doing so, we strive to inspire a reconnection with child-like wonder and a comfort with the uncertainty and absurdity of existence.  
