…until it is taken away from you.

That is how life works.

Wow, like no shit. I could talk about my hearing and how farked up it is for hours, and all the episodes I've had. I've had 9 so far, some I've come out of unscathed, and others have left parting gifts that have farked up my hearing and consequently my mental health.

One more episode happens and I am pretty sure that will be the end. I think it's rare enough that no human being should ever have to tolerate stuff like this. I'll be visiting some old relatives...or perhaps nothing at all. Either way I know I won't give a rat's ass because one needs to be conscious for that to happen.

The thread could also be read as appreciate EVERYTHING that makes your life what it is - including all the little things that make your life that bit better. It's easy to sit in your comfy chair, sipping tea in your warm cozy home and focus on all the "bad" things in life - the fact you live in a 1st world country is hitting the jackpot of life compared to some poor soul at the bottom of the ladder in some backward ----hole. You are lucky beyond belief to be where you are compared to about six billion other people.

gratitude isn't practised anymore, that's the sad truth.

Before too many people start pontificating and injecting their own interpretations and experiences into this thread, it sounds like there's a lot more to that statement that didn't make it past the keyboard.

Care to elaborate?

Hey OP - hope you're doing okay!

You got that straight. Been there - done that, several times years back... Worked a great job as "chief" repair tech for a great music store back in the 70's - until the owner discovered this white powder and everthing went kaput. Next time around - good position until the major company (manufacturer - no names) started getting *really* flaky - - bummer. Really enjoyed it there. Now this position; so far after almost 13 years I am still *really* happy to show up every day... Despite my age and some attendant health issues. Wouldn't trade it.
Years back we used to do live sound - really big system. Of course I was the "engineer" behind it. Basically cost me an approximate 10db loss in HF hearing when someone keyed the system ON while I was standing in front of a 60° double-drivered radial at full blast. Never recovered and now wear hearing aids (which I don't mind at all since I can now hear high frequencies again.)
All in all - appreciate what you've got whilst it's there... It may not come back.

Yep, that's how it goes sadly. Once it's gone, you miss it.

It may not come back...or worse, it may come back sounding like distorted shitty gibberish that destroys the integrity of the music and makes everything sound like shit. Consider yourself lucky you don't have tinnitus, ringing, diplacusis, and dysacusis/recruitment. Consider yourself extremely lucky in fact.

You are lucky. I'm sorry this happened to you, I hope that your hearing quality is intact and that it didn't affect the way how those high frequencies sound when you use hearing aids.