maddiesmum
Cathlete
I have a Cathlete Fairy Godmother! She just sent me an amazing gift for Christmas.
I don't know who she is, but she is the most warm-hearted person and I am grateful to her and for her.
2015 was, quite honestly, a pretty shitty year: my father died from dementia, my mother grieved deeply, my marriage hit an all-time low, and personal finances are being drained by both unemployment, as I search around for my next career move, and by having 2 daughters in college simultaneously. My Fairy Godmother knows this, learned this or intuited this and she sent me the most amazing gift to lift my spirits (and my butt!).
3 days before Christmas I received ICE from an anonymous donor, and even though Nancy, our beloved Customer Service rep, had emailed me in the summer/fall to let me know that someone from the forums wanted to send me this series as a gift, I still wasn't quite sure it would actually happen. Could I be that lucky? Would the generous person run short of money herself and have a change of heart? Did I deserve it?
As I sit here writing, ICE rests right here at my side and I am still just totally amazed at its appearance and what it signifies. Suffering from major depressive disorder as I do, I often lose heart and lose hope. Acts of generosity like this make me believe again so I can drag myself up and struggle back to fight another battle. Acts of generosity like this send me the message that I am worthy, that I can take time out of worrying about my daughters' welfare, my ailing marriage and lack of career direction and focus upon myself. Because if I don't focus on myself and stay strong and stay healthy, I can't help my daughters and I can't forge a new career and I can't move on and make a better life. Those who have an empty tank just can't keep on giving.
My Fairy Godmother has sent me some tools that I need to get up, get moving, get busy and get rebuilding and re-filling that tank. So, I'm going to start with ICE Chiseled Lower Body and then the Chiseled Upper body workouts because there's just something so empowering about building physical strength that overflows into building strength in other areas of life. Boy, do I need it! I will report back on my progress!
I have also decided that my next step is to get certified to teach modern languages at the high school level, having done this for 15 years already at the university level (with unfortunately, a pitiful salary), and move on from there into a full time job and then enrollment in a masters program in Educational Leadership because I think that's where I can play to my strengths and also contribute to my community.
I have been in a holding pattern, like an aircraft hovering about Heathrow airport waiting for permission to land, in my life for the past two years. The key to fighting depression is to get up, get out and do something. So, I am now taking action. I am moving on. ICE, this gift from my Fairy Godmother, is not just a fabulous act of generosity. It is also a symbolic message that tells me someone sees me and thinks I deserve it and so, OK, I accept and I shall prove it to the world around me.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to this wonderful person who wishes to remain anonymous but whose gift has touched me so, more than I can say.
Thank you, you are wonderful, a real treasure. I am sending you massive cyber hugs and my hopes for a healthy, happy, successful and productive 2016 for you in return.
Best wishes,
Clare
I don't know who she is, but she is the most warm-hearted person and I am grateful to her and for her.
2015 was, quite honestly, a pretty shitty year: my father died from dementia, my mother grieved deeply, my marriage hit an all-time low, and personal finances are being drained by both unemployment, as I search around for my next career move, and by having 2 daughters in college simultaneously. My Fairy Godmother knows this, learned this or intuited this and she sent me the most amazing gift to lift my spirits (and my butt!).
3 days before Christmas I received ICE from an anonymous donor, and even though Nancy, our beloved Customer Service rep, had emailed me in the summer/fall to let me know that someone from the forums wanted to send me this series as a gift, I still wasn't quite sure it would actually happen. Could I be that lucky? Would the generous person run short of money herself and have a change of heart? Did I deserve it?
As I sit here writing, ICE rests right here at my side and I am still just totally amazed at its appearance and what it signifies. Suffering from major depressive disorder as I do, I often lose heart and lose hope. Acts of generosity like this make me believe again so I can drag myself up and struggle back to fight another battle. Acts of generosity like this send me the message that I am worthy, that I can take time out of worrying about my daughters' welfare, my ailing marriage and lack of career direction and focus upon myself. Because if I don't focus on myself and stay strong and stay healthy, I can't help my daughters and I can't forge a new career and I can't move on and make a better life. Those who have an empty tank just can't keep on giving.
My Fairy Godmother has sent me some tools that I need to get up, get moving, get busy and get rebuilding and re-filling that tank. So, I'm going to start with ICE Chiseled Lower Body and then the Chiseled Upper body workouts because there's just something so empowering about building physical strength that overflows into building strength in other areas of life. Boy, do I need it! I will report back on my progress!
I have also decided that my next step is to get certified to teach modern languages at the high school level, having done this for 15 years already at the university level (with unfortunately, a pitiful salary), and move on from there into a full time job and then enrollment in a masters program in Educational Leadership because I think that's where I can play to my strengths and also contribute to my community.
I have been in a holding pattern, like an aircraft hovering about Heathrow airport waiting for permission to land, in my life for the past two years. The key to fighting depression is to get up, get out and do something. So, I am now taking action. I am moving on. ICE, this gift from my Fairy Godmother, is not just a fabulous act of generosity. It is also a symbolic message that tells me someone sees me and thinks I deserve it and so, OK, I accept and I shall prove it to the world around me.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to this wonderful person who wishes to remain anonymous but whose gift has touched me so, more than I can say.
Thank you, you are wonderful, a real treasure. I am sending you massive cyber hugs and my hopes for a healthy, happy, successful and productive 2016 for you in return.
Best wishes,
Clare
Enjoy your new ICE workout. That a wonderful gift you got from this generous Cathlete 
