I figured you guys should read this.

[lightningandsnow]

I posted it on facebook, but it said something kind of important, I thouhgt.

I reached a turning point last night.

You see, I'm a compulsive researcher. I had been looking at the questionnaire you need to fill out to donate blood, and I noticed a question like "Have any of your blood relatives been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)?" And I thought "Hmm, that's odd. I didn't know it was genetic. Don't you get it from eating bad beef?" I haven't eaten red meat in years, so I always felt safe.

My grandmother died of CJD when I was around 2 years old. It is a degenerative brain disease, and it is 100% fatal.

So I looked around. And I found out that there is an inherited form of the disease - in about 10% of cases. There is a small chance my grandmother had it, although it isn't terribly likely. Therefore, there is a tiny statistical chance that I may develop it. Age of onset is usually around the age of 50 to 60. But my chances of developing CJD are probably significanly less than, say, dying of cancer, or being hit by a car.

Still, confronting my own mortality, even in such a remote way, made me realize something.

As someone who has struggled with suicidal thoughts in the past, it made me realize how badly I actually want to live. Not just "live" as in "survive as long as humanly possible", but actually LIVE.

Like, I want to cross off most of the things on my "Stuff to do before I die" list. Including going into space. I know how unlikely that is, seeing as I suck at science, and will probably never make enough money to be a space tourist. I'm still probably going to hold on to that one as long as I live.

I want to inspire people. I want to change someone's life. And when I do die, whenever that may be, I want to be the type of person who can have a really long, interesting obituary in the paper. And if I do happen to die prematurely, you are still obliged to throw a really awesome party in my honor (You know who you are!)

I could die before I'm 50. I could live to be 100. Actually, I could die tomorrow. Any of us can. The only thing any of us know for certain is that anything could happen.

The choice we have is, what do we do with our time here on earth?

[Heidi]

1. Kick.

:thumbsup:

:kick:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. Thanks. Excellent Post. I wish you would post this in GD.

It can not make the greatest page from the Lounge and IMO it deserves a chance to make it. K&R

[mzteris]

3. You

inspire people already. Whether you realize it or not.

[ceile]

4. Wonderful post.

:hug:

[BarenakedLady]

5. Very well said.

:applause:

[Sugar Smack]

6. You are a remarkable & inspiring woman.

Harness that power you have and keep using it for good. :loveya: :yourock:

[Oeditpus Rex]

7. And you're only 15 or 16?

Suddenly, I feel just that much better about the future of the planet.

:hug: