Embracing Life

"I think it's worth it to risk anything for life, to live a fulfilled life. To live a complete fulfilled life you gotta take risks."

Michael Oliveri was born with muscular dystrophy, but he has not allowed this fatal condition to cloud his outlook on life. At 24, he has left home for the first time to travel from New Jersey to California, spreading a message of hope and inspiration along the way. Follow Oliveri's trip at www.mikeywheels.com.

He was online Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. ET to discuss his struggles with muscular dystrophy and his will to live.

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Michael Oliveri: I would just like to first thank the Washington Post for giving me this opportunity with our interview, and further to everyone who took the time to watch the interview and for those who have questions! ! LOVE questions, so please don't be bashful! I have nothing to hide :)

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Washington, D.C.: Mr. Oliveri, good day to you. Why does it take a fatal condition for some people to have a fulfilled life? How can those without fatal conditions transition to a more fulfilled life?

Michael Oliveri: It's mother natures reminder! Sometimes it takes a fatal condition to act as a catalyst for living a fulfilled life...but it's really anything that reminds anyone about the "fatal" aspect of anyone's lives. That fatal reminder is the best thing that can happen to anyone, it's an education about how fragile life is, which is a type of education only learned unfortunately through tragedy. But there IS a SOLUTION! Look around!!! Pay attention...to anything and everything! There are reminders that are constantly present, we as humans are wired to avoid seeing them...Why? Because it upsets the perfect world in our head and could make someone vulnerable..but THAT is the ticket to being fully present and appreciate life! One day at a time! Because that's all we really have...that we know about.

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi. I watched the video and find you very inspiring. My question is what role does faith have, if any, in your outlook? Enjoy your journey!

Michael Oliveri: Thank you so much for watching! It's much appreciated :) I have found and built faith within myself, to be the one to count on. I have always believed that as long as I believed in myself, and never doubted myself for a second, than i would always be able to count on myself, someone who i know will always be there for me! I also have faith that everything happens for a reason, and if something were to go wrong, it probably had to. So my faith transcends into a trust within the universe, that it will all work out the way it should, this journey included :)

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Washington, DC: Dear Michael,

One of my good friends has muscular dystrophy but he is like you in that he never has let that get in the way of enjoying and experiencing life to the fullest. From traveling the world to graduating from law school to getting married and being surrounded by a wealth of family and friends, he has done everything he has set out to do. At 30, his challenges are greater than they have been in the past but his spirit is still burning as brightly as ever. I am so glad to see that you have also decided to live your life as fully as possible. It is a good lesson for all of us. Thanks and good luck on your journey!

Michael Oliveri: It's always beautiful to hear about other people in similar and not so similar situations living life to the fullest! More power to him! And you're right, it is a good lesson, one that I learned as well as my situation got worse snd worse...but hey.. clue me in on the wealth tip! THAT is something I need to learn about asap! hahaha Please send him my regards and kudos on the wealth and family. It's beautiful to hear about! Thanks for writing in! I appreciate it!

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www.washingtonpost.com: How has your condition shaped your relationship with your family? Has it made you closer to some relatives, or distanced you from some?

Michael Oliveri: It's been very interesting actually. In some cases it has brought me much closer to some family members. I realize the difficulty in trying to be close with someone who has a fatal illness, because nobody wants to lose anyone in their lives. When acceptance of that factor is present, I find that my ability to become close with family, friends, or anyone for that matter, will open up the space to become close with everyone who can be at peace with my early departure! Which is not a bad thing at all :)

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Rockville, Md.: I lived and worked with Gary Letourneau - he was a computer genius with MD. Just Google him, wrote an article on him. There are lessons I learned that may be useful to you. First, always have several fully-functional ways of alerting people if you need any assistance. Second, if you try treatment (i.e. stem cell, etc), focus on heart and lung health first.

Michael Oliveri: Thank you! I will definitely google him. And thanks for for writing in and for your advice! To be honest though, what's going on inside my body for me, personally is irrelevant. I don't ignore my illness, however i just don't give it the attention it craves. Haha. It tends to take away from Living... for me at least! I encourage everyone to always get several opinions from many sources, then go by what YOU feel.

Thanks for caring and being a part of this!

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Herndon, Va.: Just wanted to say thanks to Mr. Oliveri to opening up for the camera -- this was a great reminder to get up off our butts and LIVE. Thank you very much and happy holidays.

Michael Oliveri: Thank YOU for watching! I'm always open to talking! I'm honored the Washington Post provided me with an opportunity to say hello and be able to meet and interact with so many beautiful people from around the world. It's been a beautiful experience. And even if you CAN'T get off your BUTT, LIVING is just a choice away! :) SO THANK YOU!!! And I hope your holidays are wonderful!

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Washington, DC: Hi Michael. I'd like to go back to your comment that "everything happens for a reason." I used to believe that myself until my good friend died in a tragic accident. This happened years ago and I haven't been able to live freely and fearlessly since. Allow me to say that I respect your courage in the face of adversity but I'm wondering if you could address -- based on your personal experiences and observations -- the age-old question: Why do bad things happen to good/innocent people? Keep on keepin' on!

Michael Oliveri: Hello! I can see your point, and I'm very sorry to hear about your friend. It's very sad to lose a beautiful life. However, I too had a wonderful friend mamed Jeanette who two years ago also had died from a tragic accident. She was in the back seat of a car, with her seat belt on... safe as one would imagine were possible for the worst case scenario. Sadly enough it was just her time. It was hard to see at first, because everything is abruptly changed. As time went on, I realized and observed how this very unfortunate event was actually a beautiful one at the same time. The effect she had on my life, her friends' lives, and everyone who was lucky enough to know her, is infinite. She touched so many hearts, including mine. And also for some reason in the way life works out, she provided us with the gift of a reminder, as to how short, fragile, and so not in our control and random life is. And with that gift, every day holds more value, because life is that precious and special, just as she was, and none of it should ever be taken for granted. Day at a time, that's all we got, and we should love every second. Through the tears and all, everything happens for a reason. You just gotta remove yourself emotionally, then take a step back and you can see all the beauty that surrounds every moment :) We're all innocent here, good, bad, we are all one, bunch of humans on a chunk of rock haha Thank you so much for sharing your story. Much love! I'ma keep keepin' on! Peace Peace!

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Toledo, OH: Michael, I am 58 years old. I have a mild form of MD which limits movement. As a child, I used to dream of the day when a cure could be found. After the first 30 years of my life, doctors then discovered meds (Dilantin, etc.) that minimized the problem, so that I could run, swim, bike, etc. like never before. I had long given up hope for a treatment or cure. I now have severe heart failure (not related) which restricts movement in other ways. But treatment has been very beneficial. My lesson from all this has been that there may not be a cure for many things, but there is always hope, and often that is more important. Hearing your story renews my hope and faith, again. Thank you. Good luck in all your journeys, we'll keep the fire going if you ever need a place to land in Toledo!

Michael Oliveri: WE ARE THE CURE!!!!!! I'm glad we got the opportunity to connect!! Life is one big Lesson! Glad to here you're still rockin the 4.0! haha

peace and love buddy!

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Arlington, Va.: Michael, I want to say how much you've inspired me! As soon as I saw your video, I googled you and tried to find you on Facebook or MySpace. I wanted (and still do) want to be your friend -- very few people have the perspective that you do and it's refreshing and beautiful to see someone appreciate life the way you do. Our situations may be totally different, but for a long time I didn't like myself either and tried to hide through alcohol abuse. I'm now 17 months sober and happier than I ever thought I could have been -- I'm loving life and the people in my life. I really identify with you, although certainly in a different way. I just want to thank you for sharing your wisdom and honesty. I know the Post will probably bleep out my name or Web site if I tried to post it, so please let us know how we can contact you. All the best for a FULFILLING LIFE, Mike!

Michael Oliveri: Hey! You inspire me! That's amazing! 17 months sober!!! Please go to www.mikeywheels.com! There are links to my Facebook and MySpace and I would love to be your friend!!! We already are!!! I only have a short hour here so I must be brief, but I'm so glad you reached out! Let's continue ouside of this little window! My email is there too Mike@Mikeywheels.com!!

Much love

Mikey

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi! You seem like such a happy and fun person to be around! I was just wondering, what was the turning point from being so sad and suicidal to having the great attitude you have now? What helped? Also, what are you most looking forward to doing/seeing in California? Peace :D

Michael Oliveri: You are probably the fun one!!! Hopefully one day we can meet! And what it took was a choice. Something that happened in a split second, to not hate my life, and to love every aspect of it. Some people say chance doesn't happen overnight, well... they are right. It happens so fast, but only when you decide to. Like my sister always said, "Where you think you can, or can't do something... you're right. Plain and simple, we create the things in our lives, not the other way around." Land Mark education was also a wonderful education to my life, and I look forward to ALL of California! The journey never ends :)

Much love!

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Fairfax, Va.: I can't watch the interview until I get home from work, so I don't know if you answered this. Any plans to write a book? I read a lot of adventure type literature, of people who have overcome incredible odds to survive after an accident or crisis. I would guess that you have some traits in common with people who are survivors of seemingly impossible situations. Just what you were saying in your first answer, about "paying attention" - that's something mentioned in a lot of the survivor literature I read. If you wrote a book, I'd love to read it. I find it so inspiring to hear about people who do more than the average person, in spite of physical challenges.

Michael Oliveri: Well thanks fo much for writing in!!! There has been talk, it's been mostly my family, so most likely, haha. I have some pretty wierd experiences, haha, but I only have four minutes!!! :/contact me though some way at www.mikeywheels.com where we won't get cut off!!! thoanks again!

Peace and Love brotha

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www.washingtonpost.com: You mentioned going into a wheelchair at age 18. How did you move around before using the chair, and was it easy to adjust to using it?

Michael Oliveri: I used a combination of balance and whatever good muscles I still had. It was always a journey, but never impossible. I'm goood with my hands so the transition wasn't so difficult. Wheels are so much fun hahaha That thing flies. lol In the end i did what I had to do! Now I'm just rollin with it :)

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Ft. Wash, Md.: Michael, you are an amazing young man. Each person has a purpose in life and although some of us are unhappy with the hand we have been dealt, I believe you have a very special gift to create harmony, enlighten, and educate mankind. Have faith in yourself and continue to live each day to the fullest.

Michael Oliveri: Thank you my brother for writing in, I do appreciate it. I am a very fortunate person, life has been more than kind to me, throughout all of my "mistakes" :) I'm so glad to be able to connect with you. I will continue my journey my good man.

Much love

Mikey

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Michael Oliveri: Thank you to everyone who took the time to watch the video or be a part of this conversation! My love to everyone! This was such a wonderful opportunity to be able to connect with so many amazing people. I hope to continue to meet and enjoy life with people from all over the world. Keep up with me at www.mikeywheels.com. There are tons of ways to reach me, and I continually look forward to making friends from this day, forever. :)

Thank you all, and that you Washing Post for giving me this chance.

Peace and Love

Mikey

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