Simon Ricketts, a journalist for The Guardian, writes about finding out the illness he has been living with is terminal.

Many people worry about how they'd react if they were to be told that they were suffering from a terminal illness. Sadly, for journalist Simon Ricketts, who writes for The Guardian, that scenario played out recently when he found out that the cancer he was living with would end his life within a year or two. Just over a week after receiving the news, he has written this incredible piece on his Tumblr page that he has wryly titled 'Well, that's annoying'. He writes...

After a few days of semi-paralysing grief, I have started to move forward. Sorting out the things that need sorting out, clearing up loose ends that would be irritating for those left behind. Planning for not only the end, but also the present - things and people I need to see, words I want to say or write, thoughts I want to record. And, because of that, because many of my extended friendship group either don’t do Twitter, or won’t read this, I have also reluctantly decided to follow another bloody trend, way too late. I have joined Facebook. (More accurately, I have decided to bring a dormant account to life). Twitter has an energetically transitory atmosphere where I have lots of fun, express myself, enjoy the thoughts of so many people, but it’s not the right place for this. I will make my profile public and my posts open on Facebook. It seems better that way. I’m here. (Bear with me, I don’t really know how to work Facebook yet. I also won’t be able to 'friend’ all of you)

Most movingly, he goes on to express his gratitude for a life spent among so many loving friends and family and vowed to make the very most of the rest of his life. Such simple, yet powerful, words.

I have that exact luxury and liberation to be able to spend 'one more day’ - lots of 'one more days’ - and hopefully I can help those who are upset, ease some worries, thank people, love people, even explain how this feels. And we can have some fun. I mean, we can still have fun, right? I apologise if I don’t reply to all or any of the messages on Facebook or Twitter. But I guarantee you this, I will read them. Even the nasty ones. (Although if you’re sending a nasty one, you might want to re-evaluate your life skills.) If anything impels you to spend less time on social media, surely it is this kind of undeniable, enforced deadline that makes you want to smell the air more, feel the wind on your face, breathe deeply and walk in the countryside. Lastly, I’ll say this just for now. I consider myself lucky. I always have. I think of my life as a privilege. I was born into a family who surround me with love and support me in whatever I do. I am wrapped in the consuming love of a beautiful, talented, hilarious, woman, who has made me the happiest I have ever been. I have friends so true, so clever, so talented, so committed, so funny, so uplifting to know, that I’m almost embarrassed to have been given such gifts.

To read Simon's post in full, click here, while you can follow him on Twitter here.