I have often contemplated the decisions I've made in my life and come to realize there's no point in living with regret. I know that's easier said than done. To doubt one's self, to question a situation in hindsight, to rehash a point in time and dream up different scenarios does keep the mind active but why are we spending our thoughtful energies on negative things?
Who needs that kind of garbage in their life?
Photograph and quote by Meredith Loughran
There are several people whom I admire on Steemit, and for various reasons, but there is one woman in particular who captures my attention. I have been an inconsistent follower but when I do touch base with her, I am moved by the depth of her shared offerings: art, poetry, philanthropy...and she shares her pain.
I admire anyone who gives so freely of herself. She's raw, eloquent, and beautiful on the inside and out.
Who is this amazing woman?
@girlbeforemirror
Photo from her blog
To read about her story, you must see this through the eyes of someone who loves her most, her husband @azurejasper
He wrote, "Sharing isn't easy for me..."
He spoke of the charity work she did for survivors of childhood sexual assault through an Australian-based charity called Bravehearts. She ran seven ultra marathons in seven days to raise funds and awareness, but it's not just about the achievement - you really must read about her journey.
Here's her post.
NOTE: it's a long read but well worth it!
Unfortunately, health problems and pain began during this event, blowing out both knees and torn tissue around her spine, probably exacerbated a very serious and rare condition. After much time in the hospital she was diagnosed with a rare connective tissue disorder.
#payitforward
I am donating all liquid funds from this post to @girlbeforemirror and I am calling out to this wonderful community to show your wonderful support.
Here are some options on how you can participate
- Visit posts from @girlbeforemirror and her husband, @azurejasper and give them generous upvotes on their posts and comments.
- Direct donation to them.
- Resteem their content so they can have greater exposure.
- Share their story on your social media.
- Leave thoughtful comments and let them know you're thinking about | praying | sending positive thoughts for them.
People who directly donated to @girlbeforemirror are:
@redeemed | @clayboyn | @silviabeneforti | @littlenewthings | @shortcut | @zooropa | @snooway | @surpassinggoogle | @murda-ra | @paradise-found | @kaylinart |
And my sincere wish...
More than anything dear, @girlbeforemirror - I humbly pray for the recovery of your health; that you remain strong in spirit, and can be home with your family where you belong.
#payitforward updates
- @thecrazygm was just readmitted into the hospital again. Michael could also use your support in any way possible.
- #hamburgersaintproject is operated by @lexikon082 and operated through the @hamburger-saint account - a project that is a legacy of love, giving and humor in memory of Sgt. Michael Barkey. I will be drawing names of two people to receive a gift from me. It's not too late to be included on that list!
- Steemfest travel fund is getting a boost from @paolobeneforti's art auction. Check out the art that has been donated by Steemians so far! Let's get as many people to Steemfest2 as possible!
Darling lady
Thank you for putting this together. I have been so very overwhelmed by this that I have struggled to put it together.
I began to make my way through each comment and thank people, but the enormity of it overcame me.
Thank you to everyone listed. Also those who upvoted, resteemed and messaged @azurejasper and myself.
He has been doing absolutely everything for the family which is a huge task in itself, and then getting to his day job too.
So many people have shared pieces of themselves over the past year. Personal accounts that have helped me immensely.
We don't always know when we impact someone. I used to trundle through life mindlessly and unintentionally offending people, mostly due to being a little too impulsive or overly excited.
Stopping and reflecting has been new for me. My main strategy was run until you drop. I dropped. Here. I was forced to stop, and @azurejasper put the laptop in front of me.
I hadn't sketched for a long time and never had attempted verse. I like the person I am becoming here.
Tomorrow my team will get together for the 6th run of this year's Bravehearts777 event in my state.
I can't make the journey even to watch. I have had an emotional day, looking back, realising I still have a way to go. But I don't want to go back, I just want a dimension of life that includes being a better mother and wife.
I am seeing a new doctor on Monday. I have seen so many, but I have faith that things are coming together.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart ♥
I also tend to work til I drop. With the Asperger's, the OCD, the manic-depression, and all the other quirks that keep me up at night, I realized when I hit about 40 that I could not do everything...at least not all at once. I had acute illnesses which forced me to slow down and re-evaluate what I was doing to myself and my family, and I had come to the conclusion that working 60-80 hours a week was not healthy. But going from 100mph to zero wasn't good either. LOL
So here I am closer to 50 than I am 40 and still trying to find that balance.
Marg, have you ever been asked, "If you could have one super power, what would it be?" I used to answer, "I'd like to have the ability of teletransportation" but honestly, I wish I had the power to heal. Maybe as an adult that's why I started pursuing an education in psychology? IDK.
But if I had the power to heal with a touch, you would be at the top of my list with a huge hug. You're an inspiration to me and many others. ♥ Stay strong and be adamant about your health. I've read your posts and know how stubborn you can be. ;)
Super power - Never let my daughter feel pain. Some kind of force field that only made good vibes, but appropriate levels of them.
I don't know. It's 130am.is sleep a super power?
Sleep is DEFINITELY a super power! LOL
It's nearly noon here. I didn't go to sleep until about 3 am. :P
I am new here and just reading about this for the first time but I want you to know my heart and prayers are with you and your family. May God give you strength to endure, May He heal you and Bless you abundantly. In Jesus name, Amen!!
My voting power is still recovering but that was close to a $7 vote when you were at $45 or so.
I wish I could do more but you know what I am dealing with and all my posts have taken a big nosedive again lately, top to bottom and also my $500 SBD is "lost" according to Poloniex, so yeah, I will do what I can but as usual, life issues we all can relate to.
Oh no, Barry! I hope that you can recover that SBD. I wonder if you can find the transaction on Steemd and where it is on the blockchain to forward to Poloniex. Maybe that will help recover your funds? I was there yesterday just to see what the market was doing and noticed they killed the trollbox so that their moderators could work on tickets.
I appreciate you stopping by with an upvote. I hope you feel better soon. Love you!
Thanks Mere....
Trollbox was killed many many weeks ago, so they could Propaganda, cough provide better service as it says LOL.
Hey look at who just followed me on the twitter recently!
LOL!
I wonder if he's a relative??? I don't see too many Loughran's around.
Sent the last bit of SBD to your friend here. I started leaving a $5 or so buffer there always, just for such occasions.
Bedtime for me. Nite Mere.
Putting the power of Steemit towards a great cause and steadfast human resolve. Very touching post. I wish the absolutely best for @girlbeforemirror and hope the future turns into a bright and positive one.
Thanks for spreading the word. Bless... :)
@ezzy - thank you so much for swinging by. Marg is a beautiful woman and I really hope the community will come forward to support her - not even on this post - but to visit her account and push that upvote button on a regular basis.
I was going to tell you about this, but I should have known your kind spirit would have brought you here on your own :)
You're too sweet. But of course, that's so evident with you! Bless and thank you for making my day. :)
I've been reading some of her posts over the last half hour, and she has left me speechless. Left some upvotes although it doesn't seem like enough.
I know that feeling @phoenixmaid
Marg blows my mind. In my last post I included a .png of one of her doodles where you can add something in the window that she's looking out of. Let me see if I can include it here... I bet she would love a bunch of these!
Thanks meredith, I'll see what I can do. Oh and thanks for sending @izabellablue my way, nice to have another ephemera addict about.
You two seemed like a match made in heaven. LOL
Extraordinary payitforward
Thank you @simaroy - I hope that you can participate. There are so many people in need of a boost. She is just one. <3
Thanks you. Please You will bless me and help me.
The story of girlbeforemirror touched my heart and I really hope she and her husband remain strong. Thanks for this remind, @merej99
I re-read her post about the ultra-marathon and I was in tears. She is really beautiful on the inside and out. Thank you for your show of support. <3
Such love and prayers to all those that need it. It seems so trite to say, but really it is the truth.
Love and prayers are what gets me through tough times. Thank you for stopping by @onetree <3
You have a good heart! Upped!
I just went to that post, and I am still crying like a huge baby. Whew. This one is going to stick with me.
You're not kidding, sister. I was going through tissues like crazy as I re-read some of her old posts. I honestly wish this post would do better but I've got a week to spread the word. I want to give her a tidy donation.
I am with you on that. I resteemed it, and I sent some money her way and I will talk in some ears about it as well :) I'm thinking of one altruistic whale in particular, maybe instead of having another driver take his wheel he can do a post about people driving on over to that one ;) Couldn't hurt to run it by him.
Fingers crossed! :)
<3
One came through :) Do you know Linda? She's a wonderful woman. She said when her voting power is up again she will also go to their posts.
Did I mention one whale? Lol, I might have gotten carried away in steemit chat approached several. Well the ones that are active on here anyway :) I linked this post, so we'll see what happens.
You're an angel! It's not this post so much as bringing attention to Marg and her husband's posts. We'll see what happens. Fingers crossed. I hope they get an infusion of new followers and upvotes. :)
It is sweet of you to to try to help. Your friend sounds like an amazing woman. My vote isn't worth much. I wish it were more so I could help.
Every vote counts @marxrab and your time and attention means a lot. Thank you. <3
@randompic - I wish you knew how timely your kind words are after a rough conversation with a friend. Thank you so much for this.