A letter to those of you who are healthy (and to everyone else...)

To those of you who are healthy (and to everyone else),

Be kind to your body, don't fill it with toxic substances or unhealthy food. Be grateful for your body, and don't ever abuse it or take it for granted. Go outside as much as possible, drink in nature, run, laugh and shout. Dance in the rain, skip without checking that nobody's looking. Do everything you set your heart on, travel to new and exciting places, spend time with the people who matter. If you've always wanted to learn to kayak, or have plans to go camping with your pals, do it! Squeeze every last drop of vigour out of life, live each moment to the fullest.

Call a friend you've not seen for a while, plan something fun with them and do it. Don't spend the entire time texting other people, enjoy the company that you're in. Aside from the obligatory selfie, just revel in spending time with another human being who is as exciting and intricate as yourself. Laugh together until your bellies hurt, make memories worth having.

Decide to learn something new, a new talent, skill, even a new language. Drink in as much knowledge as possible, and enjoy the process of learning. Meet others who want to learn about the same thing, those with a common interest, and talk to them. Once you've started learning, practice, and then as you get better, show off! Not in an arrogant way, but make sure you're not one of those people who knows how to do something but never does. You're an incredible being, and your brain is so unique and amazing, use it.

Explore nature, even just in the area around where you live. Go to your local park, or even get on a bus, and get off when you see somewhere suitably interesting. Discover birds nests, learn what animals are local to where you live, learn the names of plants and birds, appreciate what a beautiful place this world is. Breathe in the fresh air, take in the smells of manure, cut grass, and pine forests, enjoy the freedom that you can only feel when outside.

Forgive people. Life's too short to hold grudges against people; try not to make any enemies. You'll never get along with everyone, but try, as best you can, to live at peace with everyone. Don't base your values on what you hate, but on what you love, be kind to those you meet, and where you can, spare a little of what you have for those who do not have as much as you. Do beautiful things with beautiful people, and appreciate everyone around you, from the bored looking girl at the supermarket checkout, to the doctor who might one day save your life, they all have their part to play in this, the ultimate ecosystem.

Do these things for yourself, but more than this, do them for people like me who yearn for days, weeks, or in some cases years to be well enough to go outside. Who end up in tears because they can't help those around them with simple things like doing the washing up. Some of us don't know what it is to be well; we were born sick... I can't speak for that portion of us, but I can imagine they've spent their whole lives longing to be able to do what you can do. For some of us, we remember our old selves, almost as another person. We remember being like you, but we feel a sense of loss when we think of ourselves back then. We desperately want to be well again, and our hearts are broken on a daily basis when we remember how much we can't do.

Do these things for me. Use your legs to climb mountains, because mine can barely climb out of bed. Use your arms to hug those you love, because mine struggle to hold a knife and fork. Use your eyes to appreciate the beauty of nature, or to read a good book, because after a few lines of reading my vision goes blurry. Use your brain to learn and drink in knowledge, because I often struggle to even string a sentence together. Use your body to make this world a better place, because I need some allies in my quest with working bodies. I'm asking this of you, because whilst I'm sick, I need you to live my adventures for me, and maybe one day I'll be well again, and we can go on adventures together.

I love you
Alley-Cat xxx

© Alice Daley 2015