Dear Abby was really quite wise. Some guy asked her one time . . .

"I'm 35, and always wanted to be a doctor, but if I start now, I'll be 42 by the time I get my credentials".

She replied:

"You'll be 42 in 7 yrs anyway." "If you go for it now, you'll be 42 with credentials, not 42 without . . ."

I do everything that I want and can afford to do. In fact I do some things that I can't afford. I do weigh up the risks, and put a safety net in place before I do it though.

For instance, if you want to have kids (I did, with MS, 15 & 11 yrs ago), make sure you have a good support network first. If you don't, then it's not worth the risk, no doubt.

I don't do anything that might jar my spine, only because I pay for it later. I've learned that lesson.

I avoid stress, but pick my battles. If it's worth it to me, I go for it. I try to make sure I have nothing else going on at the same time though. Like last year, I wanted to meet some people I'd talked to on the boards, and the original plan was for June. Things started getting tense around that time, so I cancelled. I ended up going in September instead.

Calculate the risks, build in a safety net . . . then JUST DO IT!

Cherie