I do not know a lot, my experiences in life are unique as the experiences we all have but from what I have learnt over the last 20 years, I can in good conscience offer some advice.
Many will ignore this advice, many will think they know better but if this post makes just one person stop and think then it is worth it.
Before my wife became ill and my life took a different path, I was no different than many of you, 26, studying Bsc in Computer sciences at Stafford University, my hobbies were computers, games and Science Fiction, I spent a lot of time in my local computer shop.
When I met Paola and after less than 3 weeks I sold my Pace 9000 surround sound satellite system (I loved that setup) and payed the rental deposit on a small drafty terrace house, we didn't even have a bed for 6 months but we had love and a crazy kind of optimism, we spent our spare time doing live action vampire roleplay (we were part of the first official Vampire the Masquerade game, also the werewolf game and Mage) we loved computer games although at first we only had one.
She was studying creative writing with an eye on becoming a writer her secondary love was Archaeology and me I spent most of my time outside of lessons in the tech support having fun with old and new tech.
The point is we were no different than anyone else and we had plans, we wanted to visit Egypt, we wanted to explore Europe.
That morning she fainted on the way to college I had no idea what was coming my way, months of misdiagnosis and then finally a home visit Doctor took me aside and said "brace yourself this is going to be bad".
I have spent the last 20 years with my wife in Cancer wards recently Renal wards and Dementia wards with my Mum.
What have I learnt.
It is okay to save up and provide for your future but do not forget today, a man I got to know was a millionaire part of the double glazed windows boom of the 90's, he had a beautiful wife and two children but for 5 years he put off spending money and going on holiday, his wife was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and within 3 months was dead, the thought that he wasted those 5 years destroyed him, his money meant nothing.
Many times I met people at end times who wished they had done things differently hindsight is a wonderful thing.
So my first advice is think about how your life is going, are you happy and if something really bad happened what would you personally regret not doing.
My second is very simple appreciate your health, when you can not even walk 20 yards to the local shop or stand up for more than 30 seconds it comes home to you, go for a walk, explore where you live, explore somewhere new, watch the sunrise.
Third, if you have someone in your life you love make damn sure they know it every single day, we do not need birthdays or corporate holidays as an excuse, do what makes you both happy and if you have no one then don't close yourself off to the possibility.
After all me and Paola met when I was not looking, the odds were against us from the start, her friends didn't like me, she had just been dumped 1 hour earlier and my mum thought she just wanted my money *laughs* I sat down next to her at a party and we just talked for 4 hours.
Enjoy life because you never know what can happen in the next 5 minutes let alone tomorrow.
Many will ignore this advice, many will think they know better but if this post makes just one person stop and think then it is worth it.
Before my wife became ill and my life took a different path, I was no different than many of you, 26, studying Bsc in Computer sciences at Stafford University, my hobbies were computers, games and Science Fiction, I spent a lot of time in my local computer shop.
When I met Paola and after less than 3 weeks I sold my Pace 9000 surround sound satellite system (I loved that setup) and payed the rental deposit on a small drafty terrace house, we didn't even have a bed for 6 months but we had love and a crazy kind of optimism, we spent our spare time doing live action vampire roleplay (we were part of the first official Vampire the Masquerade game, also the werewolf game and Mage) we loved computer games although at first we only had one.
She was studying creative writing with an eye on becoming a writer her secondary love was Archaeology and me I spent most of my time outside of lessons in the tech support having fun with old and new tech.
The point is we were no different than anyone else and we had plans, we wanted to visit Egypt, we wanted to explore Europe.
That morning she fainted on the way to college I had no idea what was coming my way, months of misdiagnosis and then finally a home visit Doctor took me aside and said "brace yourself this is going to be bad".
I have spent the last 20 years with my wife in Cancer wards recently Renal wards and Dementia wards with my Mum.
What have I learnt.
It is okay to save up and provide for your future but do not forget today, a man I got to know was a millionaire part of the double glazed windows boom of the 90's, he had a beautiful wife and two children but for 5 years he put off spending money and going on holiday, his wife was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and within 3 months was dead, the thought that he wasted those 5 years destroyed him, his money meant nothing.
Many times I met people at end times who wished they had done things differently hindsight is a wonderful thing.
So my first advice is think about how your life is going, are you happy and if something really bad happened what would you personally regret not doing.
My second is very simple appreciate your health, when you can not even walk 20 yards to the local shop or stand up for more than 30 seconds it comes home to you, go for a walk, explore where you live, explore somewhere new, watch the sunrise.
Third, if you have someone in your life you love make damn sure they know it every single day, we do not need birthdays or corporate holidays as an excuse, do what makes you both happy and if you have no one then don't close yourself off to the possibility.
After all me and Paola met when I was not looking, the odds were against us from the start, her friends didn't like me, she had just been dumped 1 hour earlier and my mum thought she just wanted my money *laughs* I sat down next to her at a party and we just talked for 4 hours.
Enjoy life because you never know what can happen in the next 5 minutes let alone tomorrow.
