Cancer Ends with ME

On today's episode of AWESOME ENCOUNTERS (it's a long one): this CANCER ENDS WITH ME pin has sparked a conversation. A conversation that would not have happened IF...
1. I didn't have this pin on my backpack (thanks Virginia for the pin)
2. I wasn't in front of them at Starbucks
3. The power didn't go off and sparked conversation with everyone in line
4. I wasn't planning on creating an "awesome encounters" blog today--which is the reason I had my backpack on in the first place!

So, back to this pin, this pin has been on my backpack for a few weeks now, and whenever I look at it I am reminded of the REASON why I joined Team in Training 3 years ago. I am reminded of my journey with the TEAM, and the impact that our dollars raised and training has on those around us.
As I was waiting in line to order at Starbucks, the man in front of me decided to pay for everyone’s drinks in line (there were about 5 of us in line), he said he wanted to express kindness and what better day than today. This act of kindness brought a smile to all of our faces, not because we no longer had to pay for our drink, but for the generosity of this individual. A smile was brought to my face in this moment. While all of us in line were placing our orders the power went out, thus the moment of conversation that was soon to arise. But first, with a move away from the counter, I hear something fall to the ground. It was this pin that had fallen off my backpack. Who is the one to pick it up but the woman behind me in line. As she is about to hand back the pin, she takes a good hard look at it, smiles, puts it in my hand, and says, “So, Cancer is going to end with you?”.
I say to her, I will do everything that I possibly can to make that happen.
And with this response, a conversation is had while we wait for the power to turn back on and for our drinks to be made.
She asked me if I knew anyone with cancer, and with that I began to share my dad's cancer journey with her. And she shared her dad's journey with me. August 2010 my dad was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. A cancer I had never heard of. January 2010 her dad was diagnosed with stage IV lymphoma. 4 1/2 months after my dad was diagnosed we lost him to this horrible thing called cancer. 6 months after her dad was diagnosed she lost him to cancer. We began a conversation on hardships of the cancer journey and the feeling of loss felt daily. She asked me how I get through one day to the next. I told her that it wasn't easy to accept the loss but I have found a way to remember him, to honor him, and to heal my heart. I told her about my journey with Team In Training- Greater LA Chapter, I told her how important joining was 3 years ago, how it has transformed my life, how it has brought me another family that shares in stories of loss and survival, and how it has given me the strength to share my story and to grieve. She asked me if I ever had days where I just want to break down because the loss is too much to handle. I said, of course. And I said, when those moments arise, I allow the tears to fall. Because a loss of a loved one is hard, the loss of a father is heartbreaking, and it's okay to feel those feelings. It's okay to miss our dads.
This conversation went on a few more minutes as the power came back on and our drinks were now being made. I ended up giving her my email, and the link to Team in Training http://www.teamintraining.org/calso/, maybe she'll join a coming season. She said she would look into it. I hope to see her in a purple jersey one day. We got our drinks, she said "Bye. Thanks for the chat, end cancer, okay?". I said, I'm on it.

I realized, yet again with this "awesome encounter", of the power of the TEAM. The strangers- turned friends- turned family, that embraced me the moment I joined the team. The people that I continue to hold a special place in my heart. The people that inspire with every day, every mile, every dollar raised.

Keep being AWESOME friends.

Remember: we have the ability to change lives, to spark conversations, and to make a difference.

Honored Teammates

March 27, 2014

Today's episode of AWESOME ENCOUNTERS: At my local coffee shop (as usual), my jacket with the numerous pins of honored teammates names has sparked conversation. A conversation going far beyond the question "why so names on your jacket?". A conversation diving into the stories of these individuals, a conversation about cancer, about loss, about battles, about the fight for a cure, about healing, about remembering, about all of our honored teammates- those that we know, those that we don't, and those that we will never meet. A conversation pulling at my heartstrings and allowing me to take a deeper look at those we fight for, and the deep meaning behind these ribbons upon my jacket. A longer write up is in the works. Stay tuned.

A simple smile can change ones day

March 12, 2014

On today's episode of AWESOME ENCOUNTERS: While sitting at my local coffee shop, in the middle of writing about what GO TEAM" means to me and my teammates, this older man sits at the table I am at, gets my attention and asks me "Honey, what is it that is making you smile so happily? I need some of that in my life". I had no idea that I was smiling while typing, but I was, just a couple minutes earlier I had happy tears filling my eyes as well. I told him that I was just in the middle of writing something I was very passionate about. For about 20 minutes we spent talking, I told him about the two words I was writing about, I talked about Team In Training- Greater LA Chapter, a bit about my journey, and my connection to cancer. He ended up telling me his cancer story, he lost his wife to breast cancer, and his son to lymphoma. He told me about his inability to fully accept their loss and his constant grief haunting him. I told him that I found healing through TNT, that it has made me a better person, and has allowed me to find passion, inspiration, and more happy days than sad. We ended our conversation with me giving him my email address, a link to LLS & TNT, and him saying "THANK YOU. Thank you for talking to me, for listening to me, and for giving me hope for smiles and better days ahead".

You are very welcome, Frank.
I hope to hear from him again.

A sweatshirt that touches lives

December 6, 2013

"On today's installment of Awesome Encounters I bring you a piece of my night: While at Target a little girl, probably around 9 years old, kept following me everytime I went in a new aisle. I thought, maybe it's because I look a bit crazy with my hair in a super messy bun, and my awesome red and green striped socks. After close to 10 mins of this girl trailing behind me, she taps me on the back and says "I know what you do". I thought maybe it was one of this kids I've watched at work. But she continues on and says, "you save lives. I know this because my dad has cancer. And he talks about the leukemia and lymphoma society and how they are going to help make him better. It wasn't my socks and crazy hair that caught her attention, it was my team in training sweatshirt. A sweatshirt that touched this little girl, and had her approach me in conversation. For this little girl, for her dad, i am reminded yet again of why I train-why I fundraise- why I raise awareness of lls. It's for moments like these, it's for the kids that know we are making a difference, it's to save lives. To my TNT family and all of my donors through team in training journey: THANK YOU for saving lives with me."

"Thank you for saving my brother's life"

Feb 20, 2013
Sitting at my local coffee shop in my TNT sweatshirt, in the middle of writing my weekly mentor group email, a woman sat right beside me, tapped me on the shoulder and said "Thank you for saving my brother's life, I am forever thankful for you and all of you part of Team in Training" I had never met this woman before, but she saw my Team in Training sweatshirt and said she felt compelled to talk to me. We then went on to talk for about 15 minutes about her brother’s cancer journey and how appreciative she is for all of us, for helping save his life. By simply wearing my TNT sweatshirt, I have been able to connect with someone who has wanted to say Thank You, for a while now. She told me that her brother Brian, was diagnosed with CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia) 3 years ago, when he was 26 years old. Her family, had never heard of CML, and had never been affected by cancer until that moment. She said they were completely caught off guard, and had no idea how they were going to deal with it. His cancer journey, was difficult for all of them, with hospital stays for weeks on end, sleepless nights, piling up of hospital bills, and an ocean of tears shed. But he is doing well now, he is taking Gleevec, and although he has to take it every day, it has given him a new lease on life, more days, and more birthdays with those that he loves, and he will be celebrating his 30^th birthday, this coming March. Their family learned about Team in Training this past Fall when their cousin joined the SF chapter to do the Nike Women’s Marathon. And they were AMAZED at all that Team in Training and LLS has done to better the lives of those with blood cancers and their families. She says she makes it an effort to thank those she sees from Team in training, every chance she gets. Because we have helped provide her hope for a great future, and a life well spent with her brother. I am happy I met her today. I am happy I was able to talk with her. And I am happy to share in this journey with all of you, as we continue to help save the lives of others.

What are "AWESOME ENCOUNTERS"?

Awesome Encounters are those moments that transform your day, your heart, your life. They are moments with another, that perhaps happen by chance.
The right place. The right time. The right people. An open heart. And a willingness to share. I have found myself in multiple situations where I have been approached by the clothes I wear, the website I have up on my laptop, and the sticker on my laptop.
Conversations arise, stories are shared, lives are forever changed.
I thought I would compile these moments here, further elaborate, and continue adding the AWESOME ENCOUNTERS that I find myself in!





Have an AWESOME day!

<3