Two years ago, I walked the Avon walk and it changed my life. It changed the way I thought about giving back, it changed the way I thought about my body, and it changed the way I thought about health.
I wrote all about it in a blog post here: http://womanwifemama.blogspot.com/2014_10_01_archive.html
Last year, I decided not to walk. Carlos and I had decided to have another baby and I thought I'd be pregnant by the time the walk came around. I wasn't. I still am not. It took a long time to get pregnant with Celaya, and it looks like this time is no different. Except I'm older now.
Also, my sister was toying with the idea of walking with a girlfriend of hers who had suffered breast cancer in both breasts and had had a double mastectomy as a result. I told her it would be intense. I told her the walk required lots of training, and the fundraising would require diligence, but that in the end, the pride, the reward, the feeling of accomplishment was inexpressible. She seemed interested in forging ahead, and I didn't want to overshadow her challenge. In the end, she decided not to walk.
This year, I realize that both reasons for not walking were pointless. I could have walked pregnant, even if that meant I got help or assistance somehow. I could have teamed up with my sister and her friends and we could have raised funds together. Both reasons fell through, and I was left with no excuses, no reasons, and a sadness as the weekend in July came and went without me in my walking shoes charging across the Golden Gate Bridge in bright pink the one time a year I wear pink. (I hate pink unless it has to do with breast cancer.)
In addition to the above, I made multiple attempts to get involved in charity work. I found a shelter to volunteer with, a garden to help grow, leaflets to hand out, all of which I never ended up following al the way through. My daughter had a cold, my daughter was having an emotional day, I was working extra hours and exhausted, I was leaving town, I was doing extra work from home, it was raining, it was too hot, and on and on and on.
Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that, as a mother of a young child to keep actively engaged all day long who then leaves to work all night long, I am not in a position to do weekly volunteer work. I am not willing to leave my daughter any more than I already do, and she is still too young to do pretty much anything with me. Maybe in a couple more years.
What I can do, what I have done, is walk. I can walk. I walk or run every day, at least 3 miles, usually closer to 5, with or without Celaya in a jogger stroller. I can walk. And I feel great walking. I already walk for fun, for health, for exercise, for freedom, for stress relief. I can certainly walk for a cause, a cause I believe in, a cause that has touched me through the people close to me, a cause that matters to a daughter and a mother, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece, and yes, a wife. I know that early detection is key. I know that knowledge is power. I know that funding research is important, and this cause is one I can work for, I can commit, and I can follow through, walking every day until the weekend when I walk my butt off in bright pink.
I can also ask for money. I have no shame, no fear, and no concerns about being shunned for asking money for this cause, for all the reasons listed above. I will bake, I will cook, and yes, I will ask. And ask, and ask, and ask. I am trusting all the people I know to support me in whatever way they can, with small donations, large donations, or small donations now and large donations later, to get me to my goal of $1800.
I am also counting on my friends and family to spread the word, even if you cannot donate now, you can share my information on your Facebook page or in an email and ask for a small donation on my behalf. Every little bit counts, and I'm starting early to make triple sure I can surpass my goal this year.
If you are reading this, it means you are either a friend, family, or a friend or family of a friend or family. You've gotten this far, it is only a few more clicks to donate.
Please, click now.
http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk/SanFrancisco?px=7987164&pg=personal&fr_id=2484
