And So It Will Begin Again!! Are You Ready??

March 12, 2011~~~A Saturday~~~Just 4 days away.  Relay For Life Of Second Life Begins Again.

Every morning, when I come into Second Life; my day begins with sitting in front of Cure Chaser Tower. I use this time to run through the up coming day. Organize my thoughts. Listing what I have to accomplish that particular day. Reviewing what is left over from the previous day.

But every session, in front of this tower, ends the same way. I read the plaque that we placed here after our second RFL campaign.

I do not give up, 
I never give up,
For there is nothing
In this entire world
That is irrevocably unchangeable
~~Sri Chinmoy

This started out as my motto for RFL but over the years it has become my mantra for living my life.

I listen to people tell me, and this happens every year; "Another year and no cure. Why do you keep doing this?" To every person that asks me that I have one simple answer. "Please go to Cure Chaser Tower and read the plaque." If these words do not inspire some one to get off their ass and do something to help someone; nothing ever will.

(Cure Chaser Tower ~~  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lilith/22/46/75)

Last years campaign was very hard on me mentally. At times I did not think I could do even one more day. My heart was torn up by the news that my SL partner had heard those words that none of us ever want to hear. It just tore me up.  I was ready to throw in the towel and go hide under a rock.

I just kept reading those words. Trying hard to believe them. Looking for something to get me moving again. Some sign that I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.

My sign came in the form of a short instant message from Jeffry Pastorelli. Jeffry, and his teammates, had become supports of our team; showing up at our events and cheering us on. On this day the instant message was just 4 words long, "Night,, seven figures,, Congratulations"

This man, in his own fight with cancer, took the time to do this for me. It got me off my ass and moving again. I still cry when I think of Jeffry being gone but he gave me the strength to keep moving forward. Cure Chaser Tower is dedicated in Jeffry's memory. It is the perfect place to start my day.

“If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.”

~~William Shakespeare

I have tears and I will shed them liberally throughout this campaign. But I will never feel sorry for myself again. I will never stop until there is a cure. Jeffry taught me that, My teammate Charli Pelous taught me that from her Hospice bed. Thinkie teaches me that every day and she does not even know that I draw strength from her.

 

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

~~Mahatma Gandhi

When Cure Chasers step up to the plate to hit next Saturday; I ask only one thing of them~~'Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.' I know that they have the will; now they will need the stamina to get us to the end.

I have another Sri Chinmoy quote that sits on my writing table at home. It has quickly become a favorite.

“Let us not worry
About the future.
Let us only do the right thing
Today,
At this moment,
Here and now.
Let the future take care of itself.”

~~Sri Chinmoy

Love ya,

Night