my bag is packed and ready!
Ok Ladies and Gents! Not entirely sure how much anyone really reads on this little known blog of mine… but here’s a quick one for Thursday!
Tonight i Drive from Grand Rapids to Detroit to participate in my 3rd Breast Cancer 3 Day event! Instead of being excited about this weekend, i find myself thinking about a hundred things that are not exciting, and i find myself anxious to see how the weekend will go. I fear that any tensions between “team-mates” will show through after about 20 or 30 miles. I also fear that so much of this weekend goes by far too fast! Don’t get me wrong, i need those sixty miles we walk to go by at a decent pace… I just really am hoping not to miss out on anything. So aside from the few worries i may have i am also unsure if i have told the people i am participating with what their involvement means to me.
I’ve sent several cards to the walkers on my team that are and have been especially critical to my success in this year and previous years as well. I also decided that my biggest struggle this year has been taking 11 people, some strangers some not, and making them into a “team.” One might ask if i have been successful at this venture, and i truly cannot answer that question. One might also ask what have i done to make this possible. I have sent numerous emails and included all parties, i have sent letters to each walker on my team to congratulate them on making it this far or on any special accomplishments they have had. I can only hope that i helped in some way shape or form make this walk not only possible for some, but enjoyable and comfortable. It was pointed out to me not too long ago that through my frustrations i have done much more to unite people and inform walkers on the upcoming event, than most would have done for me. I understand that, and i want to be better than the complaints i have made.
Anyone who is walking in the Breast Cancer 3 Day this weekend… CONGRATULATIONS! You have changed lives! You have saved lives! You are making a difference, with every step and every mile! I hope that you are proud of your own accomplishments this year! You deserve to embrace the progress you’ve made! Thank you for such an awesome commitment! Have a happy weekend! and remember that we are all walking for a reason, when you hit a point where you might question your own motives… step back and remember your reason for walking….
This is the poem that i found on the 3 day website a while ago, and that was read at opening ceremonies…
We Walk Because We Believe
We walk because we believe – We believe in a world that is free from breast cancer
We walk because we believe – We believe that tomorrow is too late
We walk because we believe – We believe in the memory of those lost to breast cancer
We walk because we believe – We believe in the spirit of our breast cancer survivors
We walk because we believe – We believe in the children who will never know breast cancer
We walk because we believe – We believe in a cure for breast cancer
And we will keep walking until a cure is found.
As a “team captain” this year (6 women) I, too, struggled with turning 6 individuals into a “team”. 6 individuals with “self” goals – as much as I sacrificed to make “team” a “team” – the “team” was actually 2 of us with like-minded goals and 4 “individuals” each with their own agenda… sad, but, true. I will be thinking of you during this event – amazing that you committed to take these 11 and worked to create “team”: that is so much effort, dedication, commitment and sacrifice. I commend you! Be encouraged! You, you, you have your heart in the right place and YOU have made a huge difference!!! Have an awesome walk/event!