"The living moment is everything."

I have always believed that we're born a blank sheet of paper; that our experiences shape us, determine where we go and what happens to us. Whilst I do still think that's partly true, I believe more and more that certain things happen to certain people for a certain reason.

I have just finished watching a BBC documentary about a teenager called Alex. At 17 years of age, he had the devastating diagnosis of bone cancer. This documentary told the story of how he chose not to let his illness dictate his life, but instead chose to live through it - he decided to fill his life with one positive experience after another, and another, and another... A last minute dream trip with friends to Australia, sky-diving in New Zealand, cliff diving in Cornwall. And marrying the girl of his dreams. He did it all, and much more, in the space of a few years. Despite aggressive chemotherapy treatment and heavy doses of drugs and painkillers,  he remained positive, not wasting a single moment or an ounce of energy, and always with a big smile on his face.

I've heard people say that beating cancer is all about your outlook and attitude. Well, if that was true, Alex would still be alive, happily married and probably looking forward to starting a family. Or going on another once-in-a-lifetime trip. But he's not. He died five days after his wedding to his girlfriend Ali.

Many spend all their time and energy planning for the future, or worrying about trivial things and meaningless decisions. Life, and time, is precious. Live today. And don't take anyone or anything around you for granted. Or, as Gandhi wisely put it: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”