5K Walk for NAMI

 Each year, the National Alliance of Mental Illness does a 5k walk. Usually I attempt to do this every year. This is a free walk, but I also enjoy raising money for this organization. Its one of the largest providers of mental health services in San Diego. I began raising money in February. I don't enjoy publicizing the need for donations, so I did not do too much publicizing. Still the kind donations of many members ended up making $150 dollars. 

Now, to talk about what things happened before hand. My best friend left working here in our company without a goodbye and its difficult to get a hold of them and the relationship is different now since we don't work together. There is some grief associated with losing that relationship. 

 A month or so beforehand, I discovered that my facility is not going to be open for much longer and I'll be looking for a new job. I work for a different organization than NAMI and the frustration I had with losing my dream job brought me very close to not going on the walk. I still ended up going because I pushed through the frustration and anger.

Then I thought we were going to have a team and no one from my specific facility came. I was crushed. Mostly, I was crushed because I didn't have anyone to walk with me. I was walking by myself and this is important because of what came next. 

I got lost. I was following a large group and somehow lost them. After about what I thought was four laps, I ask a person "How many laps are required to complete?" "Oh, only two, but you have to go all the way around over there". Oh mercy. My legs were screaming, so I tried to do more, but they were already putting up the signs and then I really lost my way. I didn't cross the finish line, but I did my best and that's all I could have done.

I am happy to have been able to do the walk and to raise some money. I've got plans to get more local Jedi involved in the walks in the future. I am also going to work on my endurance as well so that I can walk farther.