Reincarnation

What you've experienced, my dear Alex, is a reincarnation. You don't have to die for that shit to happen. You've left your old shell for a new one, you've been reborn, you've evolved past yourself etc. However you want to put it. You know what I think timing is everything, and everything happens for a reason. Just because you don't know those reasons now, doesn't mean that you won't later. In time what you need to know will be revealed to you. You don't have to thank me for anything...let's be annoyingly cliche for a second...that's what friends are for.

I'm glad you feel like you know your direction now, and good things definitely come to those who wait...that's why patience is a virtue. Keep your head up kid! Everyone has their ups and downs, the secret to the downs is knowing you don't have to go through them alone.