Some years ago, my wife and I took a holiday break in the Åland Islands, an archipelago in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden. We had booked a cozy, secluded cottage at the end of a rocky headland with magnificent views of the sea, not to speak of peace and privacy. 

From time to time, heavy rain would lash the rocks, making them slippery. The cottage had an outdoor toilet only, and the way to it wound along a rocky path. One dark and particularly wet evening, as I was returning to the cottage, I stumbled and slipped.

There I was, lying on wet granite in the darkness of night with heavy rain beating down. I was in shock. I felt scared and helpless, beyond the reach of human help. My knees and thigh hurt badly.