When I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure at the end of December 2008, I had the same thought that many newly diagnosed people have: why me?

Why me? What did I do to deserve being diagnosed with these health problems? Did I do something wrong? Did I upset the man upstairs? Why me?

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? After many long days and nights of self reflection and internal debates, one thought kept nagging at me.

Why not me?

Why should I be immune to diabetes and heart problems, and everything that goes with them? Why should my luck be any better than anyone else’s? Why should the deck of cards in the game of life be stacked in my favor? My answers were simple; I should not be immune; my luck should not be any better; and life's deck of cards should not be stacked in my favor.

Now, please don't take this as me just taking these diseases lying down, or as me just accepting the fact that I have type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure. It's not that at all. Believe me; I hate these diseases as much as anyone else and I’m doing what I have to in order to keep living.

We are all dealt a hand of cards in life; some are good, some are bad, and some are in between. It’s not how good or bad the hand is that matters; it’s what we do with our hand that really counts.

This is my hand, and I keep playing the game in spite of the bad cards in it. And I encourage everyone to do the same.

“Why?” you ask. Well, why not?