Nearly 20 years into the onset of my disease I feel accomplished to be here.

It’s been a long, difficult road with pain my most stalwart companion.

However, as I enter the second half of my life I want to remember some of my most important lessons from the first half.

Spend time with the people you love when you can.

Make time to be alone.

Create strange, wonderful, silly things.

Make mistakes, lots of mistakes.

Try everything.

Don’t let someone else define you.

Keep company with furry creatures.

Find time to be in nature.

Move your body.

There are tastier and healthier greens than kale, especially if you forage. (Purslane and lamb’s quarter for example)

Find people who share your experience.

Grief doesn’t go away, it just gets weirder.

Love never dies.

I’m sure there’s more but it’s a chilly morning and I have coffee and infusions in an hour.

I guess that’s another one, try not to schedule infusions on your fiftieth birthday.