This morning on Preston and Steve, they were talking about a fan battling an illness (I missed the beginning so unfortunately don't know what). Nick mentioned that things are not looking great, and they wish her the best and her family. He said "it really puts things in perspective, the traffic you are stuck in now doesn't seem so bad." Ironically, I was on the on ramp for 76, driving straigh into stop and go traffic on the Schuykill.
He's right. Sometimes I think it's important to have a dose of reality for us all, definitely know I need it. Last night, I had a bunch of weird experiences. There was a big accident on 76 and it was closed going into Philly most of the day, backing up traffic on the way out. I was late to my appointment, but luckily could still meet. Ended up staying an hour late talking to my customer about her son battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma and how her daughter is in the Performing Arts Center at PALCS. So ironic since I worked at both LLS and PALCS. Luckily, her son is doing well but having some recent scans to monitor some glands. Hoping all comes back ok, and they have a great attitude about it. Perspective.
Then, since I'm running late, I know I'll never make it to my normal pool to try swimming. So I go to KOP and end up getting to see my partner a bit. Tricep was a little sore so kept it short to 1200 yds, was an optional swim yesterday. Had to dodge people with noodles, annoying. Left and went home to run. The wind was bad because the storm was coming. I had so much crap blowing into my eyes I could barely see at times. I thought I saw a snake, but it was a garden hose (I am paranoid about this after the Outberbanks where the snake ran me off the road because I was scared, and also running over a baby one on the trail - snakes 2, Andrea 0). Not lying, not even 200 feet later, I see a real snake slithering to my left and sprint away! I hate snakes. My vision was comprised at the time, making it even harder to see.
I get halfway through my 5-miler, and it starts to rain. Feels good because it was so hot. But then it starts to pour, thunder and lightning. Awesome. I make it home fine, more drenched than I felt in the pool. It is hot as balls in our furnace of an apt. I decide to cook something easy after showering, and talk to my cousin Em. We talk about a little girl in her son's class who is fighting Leukemia. I provided any helpful LLS info I could, and we briefly brainstormed on fundraising. She said "it makes you think, this could be my child." So scary and true. Perspective.
So my interesting day of traffic and noodles and rain and snakes was nothing compared to the terrible diseases people are battling everyday. Working for a non-profit reminds you of this often, but we all tend to get caught up in things and forget about the really important issues that people are up against. So today, I am trying to put it all into perspective and remind myself I need to do this more.
Whether it's a bad, frustrating training day or just not a good day at work, it's never as bad as some people have it. We can all take a page from their books on how to persevere.
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