Damien Thomlinson could be forgiven for wanting to put the roadside bomb blast that cost him his legs far behind him.
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Or for holding a deep yearning for things to be somehow different, that history could miraculously be changed.
But that's just not his style.
In fact, remarkably, the former Australian Army commando now says the incident is the best thing to ever happen to him.
It is a stunning revelation, made in a poignant Facebook post penned on April 6 to mark his sixth "Ampuversary" - a term he uses to make light of the otherwise dark anniversary.
"It was really just a wake-up call," he says.
"It forced me to change directions, I couldn't be the guy that I was, it put me into that position where I really had to deal with adversity and see what I could make of it - I like that challenge, it's a lot of fun.
"It's not the strong who survive, it's not the smart who survive, it's those who adapt to change."
Thomlinson, now 33, was serving in Afghanistan with the 2nd Commando Regiment in April 2009 when, whilst on night patrol in Helmand province, his unit drove over an improvised Taliban bomb.
"We were driving in each other's wheel tracks, I was in the fifth car and, 'BOOM'.
"A 23-year-old kid in the back, from what I hear, he woke up screaming, it knocked him out, it blew him out of the car as well."
But Thomlinson wore the worst of the blast, which tore off his right leg to the upper thigh and left his lower left leg and right arm hanging by a thread.
For almost an hour he lay on the roadside as fellow soldiers - his mates - worked desperately to keep him alive.
Whether he would live or die was anyone's guess.
Thomlinson doesn't dwell on the events of that night, or just how close he came to dying.
"For me what happened on that night isn't a huge deal," he says.
"What happened, happened.
"I've got to be a bit more worried about what's in front of me - we deal with where I am and then what's in front of me."
Although Thomlinson has to live with the physical effects of the blast, it is the mental scars carried by his fellow soldiers that trouble him most.
"I think that's probably the hardest thing in dealing with it," he said.
"I can take pain, I can take adversity, I can take the fact that I can't run any more, but ... to me it's a bit of a problem that the boys can still remember it, they've got it tattooed on their minds, but the way they've carried themselves is just inspiring."
This selfless concern for a mate, and good humour through even the toughest of times, is about as Anzac as you get.
It is a tradition that Thomlinson is immensely proud to be part of.
"It's really well reinforced when you get into the army that you are part of a tradition that was forged in battle by the Anzacs," he said.
"Their bravery and the way they deal with adversity I think is something I tried to draw inspiration from a lot, the fact we're always looked at as a troop that could walk into a terrifying, dangerous situation and still be larrikins.
"To be able to laugh in the face of adversity is a really strong character trait, to not get stressed, to be able to see that bright side in whatever's happening."
While he admits there have been plenty of dark times, particularly in the early days, he is pretty good at seeing the brightness in life.
And it is this unquenchable optimism and exuberance that spur him on to achieve what some would label impossible goals.
One of his most impressive so far was conquering the gruelling Kokoda Trek, which he walked in memory of best friend Scott Palmer, one of the men who kept him alive on that dark roadside, who was later killed in a helicopter crash.
In 2018, he hopes to wave the flag for the Australian winter Paralympic team, competing in snowboarding.
Thomlinson also studies acting full-time, is a professional corporate speaker, has written a book (Without Warning) and works tirelessly for charity.
Driven partly by stubbornness and also a drive to keep busy that he attributes to his attention deficit disorder, Thomlinson says his greatest payoffs come from shocking people.
"I love when someone says there's no way you'll be able to do that and just see the look on their face and the realisation when you do it," he said.
"Generally when people do stuff like that and say you can't, it's them voicing their own insecurities and doubts in their own abilities if they were in your position.
"It's a really interesting thing, and to be able to see that is another gift this situation has given me."
■ Damien Thomlinson will give the keynote address at the Centenary of Anzac luncheon at WIN Entertainment Centre on Thursday, April 23. Tickets can be bought at ticketmaster.com.au.