soul

hi kat! pull up a chair, .................... you are home.................

If there are moments when you feel on edge.....maybe tempted.......... ask for help............log in here,.............. help someone.............. Never underestimate the power of distraction...............use it when needed. You will be just fine..................

Welcome back Juan............ How about you reply to any post every day?

Hey Suz!! ;-)

The Foundation offers total knee and total hip replacements to those who cannot function because of their "orthopedic" condition. Some cannot provide for their family because of their condition..............The Foundation also pairs up with a local orphanage......so there is a humanitarian side to it as well........in those locations, volunteers repaint the orphanage, rebuild a wall or toilets, etc.........etc.............. The surgeries are also offered at the local level (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) ............ There is a national Foundation called Operation Walk.................obviously I am volunteering in the local chapter, Operation Walk Pittsburgh ................. we "Walk it Forward"........... ;-)

I will share events and pictures as able of course. As far as the fundraiser is concerned and to answer "JustSomeGuy"'s question.............yes, the non-profit Foundation has a fundraiser website set up for the entire Foundation as well as for individual volunteers. They have done this mission for now 5 trips.........2 to Guatemala, 2 to Honduras and one to Panama................this one will be the 6th one. Back to Antigua, Guatemala...................

Hi Amber! I saw a chair with your name! Glad that you got here..............

I have almost reached the mandatory goal in my fundraiser for the September mission to Guatemala. I am so very excited! Last week, part of the fundraiser was dinner and a baseball game (Go Pirates!!) We had a great time and I got to meet the "captain" of the Physical Therapy travel team. Over 60 surgeries planned for one week!! Looks like it will be a great adventure............................ Another door that leads me to "pay it forward".................

necessary

I have taken the liberty to borrow a writing from a great man and modify it (may he forgive me) to fit the principle of "Paying it Forward" in the smoking cessation world...................... Here below is what I stand for, in all my affairs............. "I stand by the door" I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out. The door is among the most important doors in the world - It is the door through which men walk when they find Freedom. There is no use my going way inside and staying there, When so many are still outside and they, as much as I, Crave to know where the door is. And all that so many ever find Is only the wall where the door ought to be. They creep along the wall like blind men, With outstretched, groping hands, Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door, Yet they never find it. So I stand by the door. The most tremendous thing in the world Is for men to find that door - the door to Freedom. The most important thing that any man can do Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands And put it on the latch - the latch that only clicks And opens to the man's own touch. Men die outside the door, as starving beggars die On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter. Die for want of what is within their grasp. They live on the other side of it - live because they have not found it. Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it, And open it, and walk in, So I stand by the door. Go in; go all the way in - Go way down into the cavernous cellars, And way up into the spacious attics. It is a vast, roomy house, this house of Freedom. Go into the deepest of hidden casements, Of withdrawal, of silence, of sainthood. Some must inhabit those inner rooms And know the depths and heights of Freedom, And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is. Sometimes I take a deeper look in. Sometimes venture in a little farther, But my place seems closer to the opening. So I stand by the door. There is another reason why I stand there. Somebody must be watching for the frightened Who seek to sneak out just where they came in, To tell them how much better it is inside. The people too far in do not see how near these are To leaving - preoccupied with the wonder of it all. Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door But would like to run away. So for them too, I stand by the door. I admire the people who go way in. But I wish they would not forget how it was Before they got in. Then they would be able to help The people who have not yet even found the door. Or the people who want to run away again . You can go in too deeply and stay in too long And forget the people outside the door. As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place................. Where? Outside the door - Thousands of them. Millions of them. But - more important for me - One of them, two of them, ten of them. Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch. So I shall stand by the door and wait For those who seek it. 'I had rather be a door-keeper So I stand by the door.

Hi Evelyn, Grieving is a process, a journey, just like quitting, just like growing up, just like school................. Part of grieving is anger and it is healthy to experience it. Glad that you are in touch with it. It took me years to be able to feel anger after my father died (I was 11 y.o. when he died).................. You are correct, allowing yourself to feel feeling is a step towards another type of freedom. A Freedom filled with strength and determination. ............................... Same as remaining a non-smoker.............it is a Freedom filled with many rewards......so many that one cannot even imagine them.............. Keep on moving forward and always, always tell on your emotions.................

Cher, fancy seeing you in yet another corner of the cyber world!............... ;-)

Bassman, 3 months without smoking is indeed an achievement!....................You are gaining strength and power into your freedom! So much more will be revealed..............

Netflix................hummmmm................ Prison Brake......completely addictive......................... House of Cards...........another one............

Aha! one mystery solved!................ Thanks for the welcome everybody!

Alright! Glad to be here, thanks for the invite!

So where do I set my luggage ? ;)