Early last week, I wallowed in the depths of a considerably rough few days—there was the work stress, the setbacks in puppy housebreaking, the violently deceased iPhone, the breakup, the “Am I having a relapse?” anxiety. So, I did what people do these days when they’re in the depths of those rough days: I took to Facebook, ready to unload some of my sadness and frustration.
In general, I try to avoid airing my personal struggles on social media (talking about my health, in particular, violates one of my Facebook Commandments). Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against people who do use Facebook as a personal venting platform (ya know, within reason); I think it can be a good way to purge your woes to supportive friends who you might not be able to sit down and purge to in person over a box of wine (don’t judge me!).
So yeah, this was one of those times for me, though I didn’t really have a plan for what I wanted to say. “WAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!” seemed a little overdramatic and I didn’t want to be guilty of “Vaguebooking,” so I dug a little deeper.
And whaddya know. As I began writing, the tone and the purpose of what shall henceforth be known as “The Doody Pile Post” began to take shape, like a Voltron of emotions. My intention morphed, like a Power Ranger of catharsis, from a vent session into an exercise in putting things into perspective, and thereby putting myself into a better state of mind. Like a Punky Brewster of, ya know, everything.
“Maybe the world is blind…” [d’do-do-do-do-do]
But then something more happened. In the post, I had shared that I would be participating in the Walk MS Long Beach event next Saturday, something that I anticipated would extend the good-feely-ness I was gunning for. I made a brief and pressure-free request for friends and/or family to come out and walk with me (if you know me, you know I’m a “the more the merrier” person through and through), or to donate to this cause that means so much to me.
And guys, you all went bananas. In the best possible ways.
Firstly, the messages of love and support that so many of you left in the comments brought tears to my eyes. And it was nice because they were happy tears instead of the sad, ugly kind that I’d been leaking all day previously.
Next, I got two new teammates: Nicki, who by lucky coincidence will be in LA from Oklahoma next Saturday, and freakin’ Mona, who lives in San Jose, but said “Fuck it” (probably literally) and booked a flight to come down to LA just to walk with me. Commence the bursting of my heart.
I also watched my Walk MS fundraising page start lighting up. Donation after donation came in with the kindest messages of comfort and encouragement, and I was blown away. Within about 48 hours, I went from a big ol’ goose egg to over $1,300 raised, and shot up the fundraising leaderboard to #12 on the list. This was so beyond anything I expected or anticipated, and it is straight-up reaffirming my faith in humanity. And more than that, the generosity of my friends has gone even further to show me that yeah, my life is good and I’m pretty damned blessed.
So thank you, friends and loved ones. Thank you for being there to hold me up when I was down, for making an investment in a cause that may very well be pivotal in improving and prolonging my days on this planet, and most of all, for reminding me that yeah, even though the bad, doody-filled days can’t be avoided, they pass, becoming less and less stinky as they recede into memory.
(By the way, if anyone would still like to register to walk with me on April 29, or donate to my fundraising efforts, you can do either/both here: www.nationalmssociety.org/goto/EDB )