Be there or be square….



http://www.earthhour.org

The other night, while surfing around on Facebook, I found my high school Journalism teacher…who is celebrating his 40th year of teaching. OH MY! Feeling a bit nostalgic, I began surfing for classmates. I found a few, but I was having difficulty in finding a current phone number for my best friend from high school, Kathy. Because we had talked around our 30 year reunion time, I knew that I would ultimately find her number in one of my old address books, or in a past email, so I was not very concerned.

{fade in “theme from the twilight zone”}

The very next day, out of the blue, I received an email from her. Kathy was, is and always be…and athlete. She has run the Boston Marathon and has run in many charity races, so it was no surprise that her email explained that she is planning to participate in a 150 mile bike ride to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. I emailed her to wish her well and she responded that we needed to catch up with a phone call.  I was not prepared for what that phone call revealed.

As we shared “pleasantries” I soon learned that she has fallen on hard times. She shared that in the past two years, aside from death, she has experienced every conceivable tragedy one woman could possibly could. It would not be appropriate for me to share the specific details, but she is now single, last year was laid off from her perfect job of 15 years…which resulted in the most extreme kind of financial devastation, and had a major medical scare. But, that is not the end of it.  Like I said she is an athlete, and for several days during her daily athletic training for a marathon, she began having some symptoms that were believed to be attributed to an electrolyte inbalance. Within three days of her symptoms, she was diagnosed with MS.  Upon hearing this terrible news, my heart sank. I wanted to cry…but you know what….she….all 5′2″ of her……was smiling (yes, I could tell it over the phone) and happy and looking forward to participating in the bike ride. With her debilitating disease limiting her ability to participate in all of the activities she loves, she was still as chipper as always.

So often, when people who have had as much happen in such a short period of time, attitudes are not of a giving nature. Not Kathy—she continues with her life of giving…even when so much has been taken from her. It is an honor to say I know this person. Having said all of that…..I would like to share the link to Kathy’s MS Bike Ride page so that you can read her own thoughts on the disease and the ride …HERE. Kathy’s goal is to raise $2500 for her ride. Yes, I know that money is tight for most everyone right now, but any amount you could spare to donate to the MS Society on behalf of Kathy’s brave 150 mile bicycle ride. Remember that even the smallest contribution is appreciated and helps Kathy reach her goal.

We have been so busy around her de-cluttering and getting ready for company that will be visiting soon(in only a few short days now), that I have been remiss in reporting my Lighten the Load Challenge 2009 updates over here. I have been pretty consistent with posting progress on the Lighten the Load Facebook Group Discussion Board, but time has been in too short supply around here for posting any place else.

This past week:

350 Units Debt Reduction

65 Units of Junk out the door in one fashion or another

2 Units of personal weight loss

And one more celebration!!! I now have new bathroom flooring! My kitchen flooring still looks like something you would find in an abandoned house, but hopefully soon this too will be replaced. I am so tired of the boxes of flooring taking up room in the dining room. It was become such a fixture in the dining room that stuff is now sitting on top of the stack…NOT a good sign!

We are still looking for others to join in on our challenge, if even for a short while. The Facebook group is growing slowly. Come along…invite your friends…let’s make it a party!

Now I have gone and done it. Not only have I joined facebook, but I have actually formed my very own first group for the Lighten the Load Challenge. So if you are a facebook user, rush right over there and join the group. If you are not a facebook user, now is as good a time as any.

While I was at facebook today, I was able to add Jules Dervaes and Path to Freedom to my friends list. You know I can never get enough of them.Hope to see you there soon!

In my post, Lighten the Load Confessionals, I shared with you that I am challenging myself to rid myself of 11,500 units of household weight, personal weight and debt between now and the end of the year.

Example: Personally lose 3 lbs  + DH’s loss of 5lbs + $200 in debt reduce + 100 lbs of household items donated, sold, recycled, etc. =

a loss of 308 Units for one week!

With this kind of progress over 52 weeks that would result in a loss of 16,016 units.  Again this is just an example.

Understanding that reducing debt by $200 and reducing clutter by 100 lbs. each, and every, week are a lofty thoughts (I am avoiding the G— word here), I feel I have can reasonably assume that my chosen unit target is attainable.

I am challenging myself and announcing my 11,500 goal publicly so I can solicit your help in  motivating me to post my records for all the world to see.If you are interested in joining me in shedding unwanted, stress-causing, factors in your life….I welcome you with open arms. Set your own parameters to Lighten the Load in your life….everyone has their own concerns, stress buttons, etc. I just welcome having someone to share the challenges, exchange ideas and to celebrate the victories. If you would like, please feel free to grab the widget as small motivational reminder for yourself or as recognition for taking the first steps.  If we develop even a small group, I may just have to design some real badges of honor for completing different levels of the individual challenges. Did that make sense at all?