Day 1 --- Tough Start

This weekend I thought a great way to reward myself for efforts over the last months and for the last month of the Miracle Team using corporate leads was to have a trade back for healing work I gave a massage therapist friend of mine.

Well, what I'd expected to be a treat wound up being a very intense session which has left me feeling like a bulldozer ran over me a few times, leaving its marks upon one especially tender area of my lower back.

I can't say I'm much better this evening . . .

But I did get moving today, and I did make my follow-up calls to two scheduled Miracle Team leads.

I did get on the first ever Miracle Team Call to meet with Jacki and share about our goals and our challenges. It was so good to hear from those on the call.

As I spoke of our goals and challenges, I didn't anticipate one of the biggest would be today with my body --- but it was ---

I surely am not a Thoroughbred out the gates today . . .

. . . but I am here and glad to be here, knowing that my challenges bring rewards.

After the Miracle Team Call (MT Call for short), I hopped on Live Chat Customer Service for a few hours and visited with Rose and Nita in between calls from members who need assistance.

After that, my lower back was aching from sitting here so long that I took a hot bath after eating a bite and fell into bed. I awoke a few hours later after deep slumber, hoping my aches would be gone. Nope. Just intensified and spread out a bit ;-).

So, I sat back down to copy/paste the sample certificates in the back office to take to the copy store, updated my schedule to print out a few more copies, and set about getting out of the house to meet 5 amazing new people in the community.

I had a visit with Big Z, who'd just arrived home from a trip, and we made plans to meet later in the afternoon once my errands and his Dad's errands were complete, and before the Family Chat call --- as it happened, I got back just as Ginny was beginning to read the fantastic SBIY story about the diver . . .

While I was out I went to the bank, the drive-thru. Oops, lost my chance there, didn't I?

Then, I went to the copy store and worked with a fella that helped me create the last batch of cards for Big Z Gives Big Foundation.

We reworked the cards using the template in the back office, "Do you MAKE money on every dollar you spend? You can with My Power Mall!" and then we put The My Power Mall back on it from the Invitation Cards for the original Boot Camp.

What we did is have the cards made smaller than in the back office. We have 6 up instead of 4 up. We used nice card stock. Color on the front and black and white on the back. They are nice sized, still fit into the wallet and pocket easily, and are bigger than a regular business card. By the time I got 30 days' worth of cards, got a few schedules printed in color, and got the laminated sample for the Combo Gas/Grocery Cert from the Back Office, I paid just over $50.

I told the guy we are paying members to get their business started with the certificates, but clearly he wasn't interested, and that was fine. I paid him and left the store.

I went to the car after loading my new cards into my wallet, grabbed some videos I'd watched twice while emailing leads this week for the Miracle Team, and set myself to speak to the person at the video store while I got Z a movie treat for this week. Well, strike 3. The people were busy, and I was uneasy about whipping out my newly laminated fuel and grocery certificate sample card as people tapped their fingers on their DVD cases.

By this time, I had to get moving, for the Family Chat call was soon to happen. I needed eggs and some other supplies from the market before Big Z arrived, and so off I went to talk to my next folks . . .

I wound up next to a young woman in a store that has healthy food and bargain food. We met in the bargain section. We were both scanning the shelves for the best deal, and I didn't want to jump on her, so we moved around each other and finally I had an idea: ask her what her favorite bargain is.

I did. She looked at me like I was kind of nuts, and then she asked me the same. I pointed right at it, "Nutiva brand extra virgin coconut oil" at a great price, I must add, but I am going to see if Vita-Cost or Vita-Pal can do better ;-). Then I told her of a few more items we always look for, but she wasn't engaging and so I let her go . . .

Into the line . . . got it all stacked up, and then I realized I'd forgotten the eggs! So, as I went back, I told a fellow that had come up with beverages to go ahead. By the time I returned, a young woman was at the counter, so I politely set my eggs on the counter and waited. She joked with the man buying his beverages because she thought he was making 2 purchases. He wasn't; that was my stuff. When the checker began ringing my items as hers, I reminded him they were mine and asked her to go first.

We laughed and I thought this was the time . . . the time to act . . . I felt in my pocket to the laminated certificate card and then felt funny. So, I left it there and before I knew it, the young woman was gone. I was there with the checker. We visited and he was anxious to get off work because today is his Friday. So I asked him how he was going to spend his time and he began to tell me as another customer came to ask him a Q. He seemed oblivious and my transaction had ended and she clearly needed help. So, I told him he had someone who needed his help and I walked away empty handed, my new cards in my pocket and a laminated certificate!

As I looked at the clock I saw I had 10 minutes to get home, and that also meant that Big Z and I would go back out after the coaching call to gain contacts . . . then I turned and saw a woman I spoke with before about what we are doing with Together We Can Change The World and Big Z's business. I had zero time to talk, so I went back, hugged her and asked if she'd gotten my emails and got her correct address. She doesn't count as a contact today, however . . .

So, got home, jumped on the call after calling Big Z and his Dad to update. The call tonight was GREAT, however, by now I really wasn't feeling that great at all. I made some rice and broccoli so that food would be ready for both of us to eat, not knowing if Big Z had already eaten.

Big Z showed up half-way through the call, and we hugged, and hugged more, but we didn't get a good hello in there. After the call, we had something that prevented us from connecting and from getting out of the house.

As I stared at the clock ---7:30 PM, and I felt my body, I had some quick decisions to make. Use the phone, or get out of the house . . . Use the phone it was, since Z hadn't eaten yet. Then, after a few calls, I found Z melting down and missing his Dad with gut-wrenching sobs. What a pair, Mama with her aching lower back and now tense neck and shoulders, cranky and whacked out from my intense massage, and Big Z wired and tired from his big trip and missing his Dad.

Well, I stopped calling and went to hug him, Kleenex box in tow, and he tried to talk about it. Clearly, he needed his Daddy. So, we called and sorted out the next step. By now it was 8:20 and Big Z's Dad would not have of me bringing Big Z to him. He said he'd be over in 20, but he showed up a bit later.

So, while Z was still trying to eat, but not being hungry, I dialed more numbers . . .

My 5 today were to people I love and who love me. I asked them for help as I started out my gates like a bit of a wobbly tire . . . I called my younger sister. Help! I called my cousin. Help! I called my brother . . . Help! I called my friend in CA that I approached during last boot camp. Help! No answer. I called my mother . . . Help! The VM cut off before I finished. I called my friend in town; no answer! My friend from CA called me back! Help! THANKS! My Mom called me back and I hit SEND on my report at 9:00 PM Pacific! Just made it ;-).

Though they not all be in "town" they be Family . . . and so I've emailed them all, told them I will call back tomorrow, and also asked them to not only think of themselves while they watch the WC presentation, but to think of others they know who may be able to benefit from our program and from being a World Changer.

I completed my report for the Miracle Team efforts last week, and now have my blog done. Big Z went with his Dad at almost 9, and so now I must get off this machine and get to bed to rest.

My first day wasn't my optimum. I can hear so many good stories that are coming from new folks that we've never heard from. I love it. I know I can do better, but today, my best was as good as I could do. I commend anyone who is in pain non-stop for their ability to not complain and to keep on keepin' on. Today, I found I wasn't able to concentrate well, to talk well, to stand or sit well, or to be a good mom well, or anything very well . . . but

I got an e-card from Phillip tonight and as I opened it up, he thanked me for always being there for everyone else and he hoped my back was better . . . said he wants to now be there for me. Well, you know I just began crying in appreciation. He and a few of you know how much I've been working since the last Boot Camp ended, and to tell you the truth, as I'm sure some of you may feel similarly as well; I'm feeling quite tired. Been pushin' with consistent effort for too many days to count, and it is all good.

But it is my why, our why, that will keep us going, even if we may slow for periods of time. We're here for the long haul, and as such, I am gentle on myself . . . please remember to be gentle on yourselves, too.

Good night, All. I will awake early to join Nita on Live Chat at 0700 for a few hours. And, surely, my aching back will be no more ;-). And, Big Z and I will get some quality and biz promoting time for Giving Together Is Good---http://www.givingtogetherisgood.com.