Fairies

 I know you've seen my name post way too many posts today, but I gotta do this...

So many awesome memories this morning! I have to give a huge shout out to some really amazing people.  Laura Saye, Alexandra Sandy Duhon, Dave Karls, Joel Duhon and Carey Allen all had semicolons this morning during their race.  I wonder how many people were helped today 🙂 I wonder how many people's whole day was changed. Running a race is something we do for ourselves. We train and take the time for ourselves so we can see what we are made of, or fight our demons, or for whatever reason WE have. BUT, we can also do it for someone else. We can show someone that they aren't forgotten or alone. We can show them that they are thought of and loved.  That's HUGE! Something that takes 15 seconds on our part, gives them a reason to keep moving forward. YOU took the time to show them that they matter. YOU made a difference today. YOU did that! And YOU made her or his day. That person knows someone is with them, fighting with them. You guys chose to be a part of something bigger than you and your race today, that's more awesome than words can say! 

I wasn't planning on being here this morning. I walked up to the finish line and saw the back of a pink HSRC shirt and an arm with a semicolon. Laura saye, YOU changed my day! Thank you! My heart immediately melted in a big pile of mushy heart goo of gratitude. Thank you for letting me know I'm not alone. Thank you for thinking of us that fight an illness that no one can see. Every day we fight to stay alive, and you helped me fight today! As did the others...my heart melted more with each one I saw. You guys are true family! I'm so glad I got to be a part of your day today, thank you for letting me share it! And thank you for changing mine!

3/16/17 - Tobacco Road last year was the first time I raced with Semifly. It's been a year, so I wanted to do an anniversary post. First, thank you to all of you that have supported this!  There's an album on my personal page with all the semiflies from the past year...it's pretty amazing and even spans several states! I was so scared that day to do this, but I knew the bigger picture was more important than my fear. I remember being shocked at the amount of support, and pats on the back. I really thought I'd lose friends that day, but I gained many more! 

Most people don’t understand why some people try to put an end to their life. They think it’s selfish of us, or that we’re weak and don’t know how to cope with small things. But that’s not what it really is. I want to try my best to share how we feel, to give you some insight into what depression and being suicidal really feels like. I found this story and it's so accurate, and puts it way better than I could...

"Imagine you’re a fairy.

You see all your friends flying around you, laughing and chattering. You flap your wings, but only just about manage to lift your feet above the ground for a few seconds before tumbling back down again. But you won’t give up. You want to fly, just like the others.

You try day after day, week after week, year after year — you don’t give up until you succeed. And sure enough, all your hard work pays off! You gradually get the hang of flying and soon your flying alongside your friends, laughing and chattering.

You’re flying above the clouds, higher than anyone else, enjoying the feeling of the wind underneath your wings. You make the most of every moment, as it took you so long to get there.

But then it’s all gone.

You feel a bullet rip your wing. You’re falling out of the sky at an alarming pace. You fall so fast that your friends don’t even notice you as you fall past them. “I just want to live!” you shout, before the ground comes rushing up to meet you.

You land with a crash. Your entire body hurts from the fall. You try to stand up, but the pain is too strong. You look around you and see that you’re in a large pit. You look up, trying to figure out how deep the pit is, but it’s so deep that you can’t see the top.

You try to flap your wings, but they’re useless now that the bullet’s gone through them.

You try climbing out of the pit, despite the unbearable pain you’re in, but there’s nothing to grip on to, and to make matters worse, it starts raining making the walls of the pit slipperier than ever. You fall back into a muddy heap on the ground, and weep and weep and weep.

This is what depression is for me."

The first time I did a semifly, I wanted those on the ground to know that I saw them, I see them, I'm with them...they aren't alone. I am on the ground a lot, and those that come into that pit with me save my life by just being there. They give me a lifeline. They hold me together from completely shattering. Semifly is a symbol showing you know the ground exists, and you're visiting. That visit can save a life. It also shows those that don't quite understand that it's ok to be understanding. It's ok to love those that struggle, and not shun them for something that's not a visible disease. Thank you again for being an awesome running family and letting Semifly fly all over everywhere!!! 

Sorry for the long post (again). Below is a pic from TRM last year. Happy Anniversary Semifly!!!