Why Emotional Tears Filled My Eyes This Week

Hi Folks!

It is that time again where I wish you another happy Monday as we start a new week in this crazy thing called life.

And what a crazy week it was.

We got news in regards to a high-profile trial coming to an end, bill signing in the White House that has seemed to only further the polarizing of the political spectrum, news about booster shots being approved for all adults, and some Summer-like weather that Mother Nature decided to throw in as a teaser before she decided to blow some cold winds our way.

Can’t wait to see what is in store for us this week.

And before I get into this week’s post (which I promise you will be an easy, short read), I want to take just a few moments to bullet point some quick entities in my life that I’m thankful for, especially since the holiday of thankfulness is upon us.

This in no way, shape, or form a complete list (like duh…do you even know who I am?!), but rather just a quick jolt to help you think about entities that you are thankful for in your life too!

1. I’m thankful for my loving family who is always there to support me through every undertaking no matter what the cost with the greatest love.
2. I’m thankful for my incredible friends who always know how to make me laugh, give me unconditional love, and keep me going during the toughest of times.
3. I’m thankful for my coworkers at both my full-time and part-time jobs who always continue to challenge me on the daily and encourage me to take risks, do the right thing, and help others.
4. I’m thankful for Pastor Angie and my church family. My spirituality is such an important part of my life and has become even more important since the pandemic. There is always a wonderful comfort that I find within our faith community.
5. I’m thankful for a warm roof over my head that gives me shelter along with moments of calm, warmth, and relaxation after days of exhaustion.
6. I’m thankful for all of YOU who continue to come back week after week to relish in the words I write from the heart for you to read every Monday.

Your turn! Please make sure to take some time today, tomorrow, and every day after to be thankful for things in your life. And if they happen specific to a person in your life, please make sure to reach out and let them hear those words.

And while Thanksgiving takes place this coming Thursday, November 25th, being thankful is something that we should acknowledge each and every day.

Alright, it’s time to move on to this week’s post…the 145th one I’ve written to be exact!

Are you ready?

Do you have your morning coffee (or whatever morning beverage you enjoy most) in your hand?

Are you cuddled in warmth ready to read some more words?

I hope that you answered an energetic YES to all of these questions!

At the moment, it is currently 8:34pm.

I’m lying on the couch, in a blanket, with pain and exhaustion in the body after running 13.3 miles around Lititz to clock mile number 1,179 in the year-long Miles 4 Smiles journey.

And, in case you were wondering, that is marathon #45 of 50. That means we have just 5 more to complete with 39 days left!

AND…

We are 88% of the way to our $20,000 fundraising goal!

Insanity.

Which leads me in to this week’s post about emotional tears.

And…no…I’m not talking about the emotional tears that I cry from watching all the Hallmark and romantic comedy movies with happy endings.

Because…yes…I do cry at those movies.

Rather, I’m talking about the raw, real tears that fell from my face as I experienced support in the past week from people all over the United States.

One week ago, as I sat on my bed waiting to become tired, I kept thinking to myself about how daunting of a task it would be for me to finish out the last 50 days of the Miles 4 Smiles journey to hit both the 50 marathon running goal AND $20,000 fundraising goal.

As I kept running numbers over and over in my head, I kept getting discouraged with the fact that my running schedule would need to become a bit more intense and the fundraising efforts would need to ramp up even more than the previous 11 months.

I was starting to feel defeated.

I was starting to feel that these goals I created for myself were a bit too ambitious.

So, I decided to enlist the help of some of my closest customers at work.

I reached out to just a handful of them explaining my mission and passion to help others and to show them the other side of Mr. Sunshine when I’m not on the 8-5 clock working as an Account Manager.

And in just one week, the total fundraising efforts went from $14,000 to $17,660!

Almost an additional $4,000 was added in just about 7 days.

SAY WHAT??!!

And can you guess what I did?

Yep, you guessed it.

I did exactly what the title of this blog post confirms.

I cried emotional tears.

I went from feeling defeated in regards to the yearly goals to feeling an energy of revival in just one week.

And as I sit hear writing about it for you, I still continue to get emotional.

Call it divine intervention, but it was like my cry for help was heard and in return met with the most overwhelming support that I never imagined would happen.

Seeing the support from not only some of my customers across the world, but individuals (some of whom I don’t even know that well or at all) coming together for the common good to create light in the world is so rewarding and beautiful.

Our world is a dark place.

But I’ll be damned if I let it extinguish the fire in my soul that continues to burn with the support, help, and love of individuals everywhere.

Literally…everywhere.

We are changing the world.

We are going to continue changing the world.

And we have another 39 days left to CRUSH our goals in the year-long journey that started January 4th.

And my emotional tears are at the ready.

Feel passionate or moved to donate to help these families fighting pediatric cancer? Or at least spread the word to others around you?

Join the flight and please check out miles-4-smiles.com (link below) for more information and to make a donation!

Sprinkle sunshine always,

JP!

http://miles-4-smiles.com