LEGS (this is important!!)

This morning I felt myself complaining in my head about how much my legs were hurting during the pose. I slabbed on and swallowed arnica during every break, pumped my calves to keep my circulation up, put on my best fake-look-of-peace-and-ease and powered through the session without passing out, crying, cramping, or falling over, but I definitely had some serious thoughts of annoyance, "WHY did I decide to put myself through this?" I'd like to say that the pose is just difficult, especially with almost all my weight on one leg, and the twist hurts my back... but maybe I'm just not as fit as I could or should be.

I came home and flopped myself down (I should say bed, but it was actually at the dining room table) and upon opening my facebook, was greeted with all sorts of notifications about a campaign from a former Honolulu Waldorf student, who needed a new prosthetic leg. Julian Sydow is the son of my sister's kindergarten teacher, a student who I never knew personally, but met in passing quite often. I knew he had a prosthetic leg, but I didn't know that that he'd been hit by a drunk driver at the age of 14 and had his leg amputated. Wow! For years his doctors have been telling him to replace the prosthetic but he can't afford it and his insurance won't pay the costs ($20,000.) The campaign is a fundraiser for Julian so that he can get his leg fixed and experience the best mobile life that he can.

And there I was complaining that my calf muscles were going to rip apart. At least I have 2 calves. I didn't waste a second in grabbing my wallet and donating as much as I could. And really donating. This isn't the type of fundraiser were, "Oh, I'll give $5" seems too appropriate. It's not like I'm loaded or anything. No, I'm just a 21-year old girl, job-hunting in a foreign country and trying to make ends meet without my parents' support, but still... The gift I made is maybe 2 days' worth of work standing as a model. Two days of pained calves and sore hips are nothing compared to the years that Julian has had to suffer (and I've never spoken to him about this, I can just imagine.) That'll make me shut up for the next 3 weeks of work.

In denial of my own leg pain, I went to the gym and ran until I pretty much collapsed. I have legs, so I'm going to use them. The 5km I ran today were for you, Julian. I hope that you can get a new prosthetic that lets you run a marathon one day!

If anybody is in the gift-giving-mood this holiday season, how about skipping Black Friday, American consumerism, bypassing commercialized holidays and giving a true gift. Tell your family that you're giving to a bigger cause than to Wall St. this year. I'm sure they'd understand. Here's a great opportunity for everyone to open their hearts and work together to help someone in need. Please!

The campaign can be found via the following link: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/new-leg-for-julian-/112215