Stop Your Bloodclot Crying!!!

For those who know me personally know that I'm an avid volunteer with New York Cares. Every year I set a goal of one hundred volunteer hours. I usually pick fun projects so me giving my time isn't such a big deal. But because I'm a huge procrastinator, as the year ends I scramble to rack up hours and sign up for every project I can to guarantee that my goal is met. Friday before last, I signed up to assist with an annual dinner for the Achilles Track Club. It didn't sound like a fun project but it didn't sound bad either. Since it was a dinner and was at a hotel I figured I couldn't go in with my usual jeans/sweats/sneakers attire; I'd have to opt for dressier clothing. I had taken Friday off and my most comfortable heels were in my office and I don't have flats (well appropriate flats). So I headed off to the hotel in a pair of three inch boots (the flattest most comfortable shoes I had). The volunteer job description called for checking in and registering guests, help with set ups and serve as guides. Guess who got the position of being a guide. Yup yours truly. That meant no sitting for four hours. Before my feet even began to hurt I was a big ball of complaints. The other volunteers had the job of check-in/registers (a position that called for sitting down). So I'm outside directing people in and I'm just pissed off. Really for no reason except the fact that I had to stand and didn't have the "easy" job. I'm standing and smiling as I'm greeting and directing guests towards the conference room where the dinner is being held. I'm still complaining to myself saying that my cheeks will soon hurt from the "fake" smile I was putting on. I'm completely oblivious to the people attending the dinner because I'm caught up in my own little world of imaginary ailments. As the dinner started and there were less people to guide I was able to catch the slide show they presented at dinner. Not once did I look up what kind of organization the Achilles Track Club was. But the slide show was a big reality check. This was an organization that helped disabled people (whether it be those who are in wheel chairs or on crutches, have prostheses and visually impaired), participate in long distance running. The people I was greeting and guiding had these disabilities. This was a kick off dinner because these disabled people were going to participate the ING NYC Marathon (26.2 miles for those who didn't know). Here I am complaining EARLY for no reason because my feet didn't actually start to hurt till it was time to go home. And as far as putting on a fake smile it should not have been fake because looking at these people I have every reason to smile. I have my health, I'm able to stand on my two feet (literally and figuratively speaking), I have all my five senses - all things I take for granted. I was complaining about having to stand for four hours while these people would die to be in my position. I'm supposedly putting on a fake smile while these people were showing me their real smiles because they were so appreciative to be able to participate in such an event.

I would like my facebook and twitter friends to think twice about complaining on their updates (I am not pointing fingers because I've been guilty plenty of times for using "FML" on something trivial). Yes some days are just horrible, but think of how horrible you'd feel it you didn't have the ability to walk or hear or see. To see these people with disabilities so full of spirit was a wake up call. Live everyday to the fullest. And believe me shit happens. But like the saying goes when life gives you lemons - make lemonade.

If you'd like more information or volunteer with the Achilles Track Club or New York Cares their websites follow.

http://www.achillestrackclub.org/

http://www.newyorkcares.org/

Besos,


Ms. SoChic