My Journey With Weight Loss – Getting Overwhelmed

Yesterday was my 12k run so as usual up early and hit the road. I knew it was going to be cold so I layered up and put on gloves and a toque. However, it was even colder than I thought it would be and I didn’t even start working up a sweat until I was at about 7k. Still, I kept going even though my face was numb and tears were streaming down my face. For once I didn’t even have to push through the 10th k, I just kept going. I was pretty proud to finish that run though I admit I had to turn on the gas fireplace for most of the morning until I had finally warmed up.

Things have been getting a little overwhelming for me lately. There’s the pandemic which means I don’t go out very much, being able to only spend a handful of days with my husband again this year, my brother’s health issues, our trailer property flooding (we may know in a week how bad it is), crazy weather causing my arthritis to flair up and now a new variant of concern that has our upcoming trip to Mexico to become precarious. Some days I think how can I deal with all of this? Yes, the running and walking helps most days but still every time something new is piled on I think there can’t be anymore.

This week I got to have one of those feel good moments. My sister is visually impaired and like me she doesn’t leave the house much. But, she keeps herself occupied by knitting which she does pretty much daily. Over the course of this year she has knit approximately 115 sets of toques and scarves. The past couple years she has found organizations that would take the toques and scarves and distribute them to those in need. She had selected a new organization this year but after more than a month of doing follow up she gave up and asked me if I could use my connections to find an organization that wanted them.

I decided to contact the United Way of BC to see if they could hook us up with a good match. Now most people would reach out the the UWBC through normal channels but not me, I went directly to their CEO (we’ve worked together for years) and he immediately had the appropriate staff person contact me. Soon, they suggested an organization that they that could really use this donation. The organization was looking for items to help migrant workers who had recently lost everything to the horrible flooding we have experienced over the past few weeks. Because they are migrant workers they are not entitled to the same support that permanent residents in BC receive. With winter coming on some warm items of clothing would be welcomed. Both my sister and I agreed this was a great match and we made arrangements to have the numerous bags of toques and scarves to be picked up. The rep from UWBC was thrilled to be part of this and as was the volunteer that picked all the sets up. Pictures were taken and UWBC is reaching out to the media to tell of my sister’s incredible gift.

Now that is a nice story but it is not what really made me feel good. Right after all the knitting was picked up we headed off to meet our Wednesday morning coffee group. When we got there we apologized for being so late and I explained about waiting for the toques and scarves to be picked up and who would be receiving them. An elderly gentleman who is part of our group immediately opened up his wallet and handed me a $100 bill asking me to make sure that it got to the organization supporting the migrant workers. I stood there for a few seconds staring at the bill thinking I just don’t know what to say. Then I looked up and smiled at the gentleman and thanked him profusely.

Yes, my world is difficult right now but I have decided that every time it feels overwhelming I am just going to think of that $100 and how it will help those in need right now. Witnessing that simple act of kindness gave me the feel good moment I needed to get through what lays ahead.