Bigger concerns

starting a challenge for others

I saw the advert on Facebook last weekend: the American Cancer Society is holding a December challenge for participants to raise by walking 100 miles. I was immediately excited, though I haven’t done a fundraising challenge in twenty years.

I walk for lots of reasons such as to strengthen my heart, to assure I do something universally suggested to ward off potential illnesses (beyond but including cancer) for me. Walking also helps my mood by showing me the rest of the world.

PLEASE NOTE: I am NOT struggling with cancer. Several of my closest friends and family confronted the bloody horrible disease, however. It stole someone from the family well before I appeared but the effects endure eighty plus years later. I try eating, exercising, and getting regular checks so I hopefully will never confront it but I suspect so many people do the same and the cruelty continues.

I am NOT asking you for money in this column. Of course I support the cause or I would not be walking or writing about it but that is not my point here. If anyone chooses to contribute to a cause, I say ‘what a good person’ because I believe so firmly in putting one’s assets where one’s priorities are. But that most definitely is not why I am writing on this today.

I am celebrating the ability to participate so easily to help others. This challenge reminds me I have healthy lungs and legs. I am lucky enough to have a heart able to walk daily. Goodness, that truly is about as good as it gets.

Think of all the people who lack that ability. I am most definitely walking in smaller pieces than 100 mile increments, of course, so it’s completely reasonable, even if it sums to a big round number. But health is a miracle I take for granted too much of the time.

Absolutely most importantly, I am participating because it helps others which feels tremendous: for recipients as well for me. Those of you reading this have heard about my amazing friend Susan the Service Dog Whisperer. She raises service dogs because she enjoys it but she also is acutely aware that service dogs are that rare set of beautiful creatures who selflessly provide confidence, hope, and help for so many folks otherwise incapacitated. By doing that, she is directly supporting the recipient’s life and that of her/his family. Wow. Talk about impact.

Then there are those working in any manner with veterans or homeless or bereaved. Those people are supporting others needing TLC, patience, listening, and a panoply of other less obvious time and caring. These ‘givers’ don’t do their activity because they expect thanks in return. They each do it because they care about their communities.

Doing something for someone else, however, almost universally feels great. It takes us outside ourselves to consider the experiences and perspectives of others. Of course I don’t pretend I am going to feel the pain of cancer but I can feel the optimism that my walk motivates others to support a cause bigger than me.

So, 1 December will see me walking for oodles of reasons.

And seeing the rest of that incredible world shows me neat stuff, even in December. Look what I found this afternoon, by the way.

Thank you for reading this column. I hope will leave me some ideas where you donate your time or contributions for others as I am always looking for new ideas and experiences. Thanks, especially to those of you who contribute to this work as I write it with readers in mind.

Be well and be safe. FIN