As said by Earl Nightingale, “Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of you to make you happy in the future. Think about how precious the time you have to spend, whether it is at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored. This is a phrase I learned to live with after my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. I know…another narrative essay about a sick relative? While you may have read many essays written on this topic, I saw what happened to my grandfather and my entire family due to his slowly worsening condition, and it taught me so much about life that I feel the need to write about it. en.Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Before this disease began to take away his memory and many other basic abilities, not only was he an extraordinary person, but he was the best grandfather anyone could imagine asking for, and he willingly drove for hours to watch his grandchildren play twenty minutes of basketball. He was the funniest person I've ever met, and even if I try to find some now, he can barely speak. He told me many stories about playing college football, his career, and other amazing moments in his life. Although he is not dead, those abilities and memories he once had seemed to be dead. As a grandfather, he was clearly my role model. As an athlete and an innovative businessman who I saw adapt to what the world needed from him, it was easy to admire him. Now, unfortunately, when I look into his eyes, that extraordinary spark he had is no longer there. He sees me and I can tell he recognizes me in his eyes, but he has no idea why. It's painful, but even though he may not remember me or the good times we had, I know that if he could look back on his life, he would be proud and happy with how he lived it. He made people laugh and never faced an obstacle he didn't try to overcome. He looked adversity and challenges in the eye and overcame them. There is no doubt that school, sports, summer jobs, volunteering, etc. are important to me. However, building and sustaining relationships and being there for my friends and family has gained enormous value for me. If friends or teammates are down, I make a personal goal to spend time with them or even just send them a cheering up text. For example, when my sister was nervous about navigating high school as an incoming freshman this year, I gave her a personal tour of the school and texted her directions to and from each of her classes . When there's an opportunity to try something new or to help a teacher or coach when they need it, I'm there. I don't do these things to get credit from my parents, teachers, or to make the crowd laugh; I want to be there for the people I care about. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay When I reach my grandfather's age, I intend to look back on a life well-lived. I intend to make a difference. I will strive to help people and make them happy. My goal is to enjoy every minute, add value wherever I go, create the precious memories my grandfather created during those long-gone days, and live life to the fullest.