It’s fair to say I’ve been looking forward to this week for quite a while now.
As I explained on Friday, reaching the 5 year post-transplant mark is a significant step for anyone. It gives a remarkable psychological boost that – for me at least – makes me feel like I may be approaching normal. Ordinary. A regular person.
But, the truth is, I want to be more than normal. I relish abnormality – I want to be as different, as unique and as extraordinary as I have been up to this point. I don’t want to let 5 years pass and think it’s OK to let it rest.
I want to tell the world the impact that my donor has had on my life.
I want to show the world the power of transplantation.
I want to help people understand how important being registered to be an organ donor is and the lives you could save and transform.
I want to be remarkable in the truest meaning of the word.
I want all of these things, but more than anything, I want you to know that extraordinary lives can be lived by all of us every single day. With a deep breath, a smile and a kind word to those around us, we can all have an impact. By signing the Organ Donor Register, we can all leave a legacy. By making sure our loved ones know our wishes, we can all be a part of something bigger.
Tomorrow, on my 5th second birthday, I will be releasing Smile Through It: A Year on the Transplant List on Kindle, closely followed by ePub and physical versions, too. It’s designed to give people an insight into just how hard it is to do nothing but sit and wait.
I want you all to remember that there are too many people in the world with their lives on pause while they wait.
Don’t leave your life on pause; find the play button and let’s make sh*t happen.
Photo: Brian Gurrola on Flickr.