There's someone who I've been following for over twelve years on her various social media. She used to post a lot (like all day every five minutes, and more even on other accounts) at the time. That she's Dutch like me is total coincidence. She's very funny and one day(*) a funny post of hers was retweeted by the showrunner of Doctor Who, which is how I found out about her. She's a very interesting person and did lots of different things. From blogging, rock climbing to inventing different ways to organise books on shelves.

Sometimes you may feel some kind of connection to the people who live in your phone, but especially if you're not mutuals you're actually complete strangers.

I've never felt that distance as much as now.

I knew she was ill. With an incurable disease (progressive ME). Recently I heard she had requested to be euthanised. Now I hear it's going to happen in January. This is going to be her last month on this Earth. And I guess she has no idea that there are several people like me she doesn't even know of, who are thinking of her.

There's an interview with her about her euthanasia in a news website related to a national tv channel (in Dutch): rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/artikel/54…

I joke often about the weird/wrong date format that Americans use. That's in honour of her, a joke I stole from her. I can still cite this post she made of the top of my head.

Back when she was posting a lot she also had severe mental health issues and was suicidal. I remember how she did a lot to overcome this (like setting a challenge of 100 days of 100 positive things, which she did complete) but also how she did a lot to support others with similar problems (e.g. there was a monthly video project she edited).

Anyway, had to write this down so it wasn't only in my head.

(*) 10 November 2011