Katy Jo at Home

Walkrs 4 Knockrs Day 3 at Lunch - 4 miles til the finish!

After walking about 50 miles in the Breast Cancer 3 Day, slippers and a heating pad went from everyday items to absolute luxuries as I curled my incredibly sore muscles up into a warm bed on Sunday night. Accumulating blisters and tension was trivial compared to the motivation to keep trudging along forged by every smiling face, encouraging word and grateful expression of the people who came out to cheer us on and thank us for making a difference. Julia, Nichole, Adam and I walked Friday though a constant downpour in fifty degree weather and then Saturday and Sunday were sunny and cool days.

Deciding to accept the challenge of raising $2,200 and training to walk sixty miles took several months of conflict until I worked up the courage to commit. On the day I made that decision I was filled with an amazing life energy that invigorated me and filled me with passion for others and a purpose. Throughout the process as individual stories of loss and triumph were revealed, I realized that fighting breast cancer is a fight that is SO much bigger than me or you. In joining hands to take a stand beside the wary and lonely soldiers in the battle there is power and force unachievable by a sole individual.

Coming into the Finish

Having fought chronic and unidentifiable pain for a three year period illuminated how lonely physical battles can be and thus my finally overcoming that pain was the catalyst in my desire to walk the 3 Day. Over the three days we walkers experienced a full range of human emotion from hope, weariness, encouragement, drive, anger and frustration, pain, annoyance, sadness, resentment, fatigue and humor. In these times every kind word and positive reinforcement had a physical affect on our weary and painful bodies that literally drove us forward. This is the positive energy that we all have to offer others who are fighting their unique battle with pain, whatever that pain may be.

Knowing that there are people out there who need to be shown love and then providing that love are two separate things which require a decision to love authentically and to love consciously. I’m inspired to make this decision every day as the axis of my life’s purpose and encourage you to do the same. Sharing a simple “thank you” in response to a trivial or ordinary item can make a significant difference. It only takes a few short moments to utter these two words, but the impact can be felt for a very long time. The power of love extends its reach when we will love intentionally. Real love, authentic love, springs to life and is sustained when we make the choice to feed it with our deliberate passion.

I feel lost with the absence of a cause such as preparing for the 3 Day and look forward to the next idea that will spark a passion in me and in you to usher us into being fully alive. Share your ideas and your passions. Seek to embrace the moment. There is no better day than today to make a conscience decision to love and live. It feels so darned good!

Celebrating!