The Answer to the Question

Hi everyone,

Last week, I invited my readers to ask any question that you might be wondering about. Perhaps you have a question related to Lyme Disease. Let me hear it. Perhaps you have a question about what it's like to live with a chronic illness. I like talking about that. Or perhaps you have a personal question for me. If I can write about my menstrual cycle, then I can answer just about anything. Email me or write your questions in the comments section below.

Today I am answering the first question, which was submitted by Bethany: What are two things you hope to see in your lifetime?

When I first read that question, I really wanted to respond with some existential answer - one that would make you go, "Hmm." I held back, though, which was probably best since Bethany was probably looking for an answer about some tangible things I hope for. After an appropriate amount of thought, I will share with you the two tangible things I hope to see in my lifetime (out of a list of about 50):

1. I hope to publish a book that would be remembered even after my death, that would add to the reader's life, and that would be enjoyable to write.
2. I hope to own a home - a modest one - with a backyard large enough to have a one-bedroom apartment. My plan is to invite someone living with a chronic illness to come stay in this apartment rent-free. The intention is to give this person the space (physically, financially, and emotionally) to fully engage in the recovery process in order to become healthy enough to be able to work and live on his or her own. (This is also my opportunity to "give back" in the same way I have personally benefited.) Since we're on the topic of my future backyard, I would also like the space to have a small studio that holds a sauna, a Doug coil machine, and a few other recovery tools. And one more thing: I would like my backyard to have a small altar and nave to invite people into worship and a brief, spiritual retreat.

Not too much to ask, right?

A.