So.. My wallet was stolen

Sometimes, life smacks you in the face. Really hard. Takes your wallet and makes you reevaluate how safe you feel. And how unobservant you can be. Funny how having my wallet stolen has awoken me. I passed through all the stages of emotion. Disbelief, anger, grief, action, grief again, alcohol, anger again (with a side of violence, I regret) and giddiness. True story. Lucky for me, I have a fantastic support system. A wonderful woman who gave me a metro card to use. A caring man who gave me $20. A fabulous bartender who knew what I needed (and pushed glasses of water my direction). And the countless hugs, threats against the offenders, and the jokes to make me laugh.

There's a violation of privacy that happens when something so personal is stolen. The perpetrator literal took my identity and went on a spending spree at McDonald's.. What makes a person think they have a right to take something away from someone else? I would never ever EVER think to disrespect someone like that. Someone enjoying a fabulous dinner with a friend they hadn't seen in awhile. The fact that it was stolen right under my nose makes you hyper aware of your environment. I immediately start to suspect everyone. And wonder if that guy that looked at me on the train was trying to match me to my driver's license photo. Everyone is the culprit.

Immediately I suspect everyone on this train that has a McDonald's cup. But I can't let myself turn to bitterness. Is it that hard to believe in the goodness of people, even after someone violated your personal space? I'd like to think I'm evolved enough to let the bitterness, anger, and judgement go.

Fortunately I was able to cancel my credit card and bank card before something catastrophic happened. I can only imagine what the perp bought for $26 at McDonald's. I'm almost ashamed to admit that the he/she/it better be thankful I didn't know how close they were when I was passing through my anger phase. What can I say, I'm feisty.

So, as I sit, wallet-less and concerned about the future of my PA driver's liscense, social security card, and Victoria's Secret preference card, I can't help but be humbled by the people who jumped to help me. It doesn't matter what I lost. I found what was really important. Credit cards can be cancelled. And there can only be one Jes Halm. Go ahead and try and feel these shoes! But that one Jes Halm wouldn't be anything without the incredible people in her life. Everything else is replaceable. Friendships and incredible, supportive people, are not.

So, instead of anger, bitterness, and ill will, I'll focus on compassion and gratitude for the wonderful people I am fortunate enough to share this planet with.

Thank you.

Don't wait, CREATE!

A week ago, I completed my first half marathon.                   

 I was shocked. Until the moment I saw the finish line, I never actually believed I would cross it. There I was, huffing and puffing next to a Mad Hatter who had lost his Alice, a little mermaid that might've been a man, and a clansman straight out of Brave. I had just been passed by 3 different Leias. I didn't know how much longer until my legs buckled and gave out on me. And there it was. Gleaming and beautiful. Written in that classic Disney font: Finish. It made me cry. The fact that I had made it. That I wasn't picked up by the paddy wagon and delivered to it. The fact that I wasn't last!!! I had run up and down the highway, under Cinderella's castle, through Tomorrowland and past Spaceship Earth. 13.1 miles, 3 hours, 14 minutes, and 31 seconds. And then some. I amazed myself. I cried when they handed me my finishers medal, a beautiful and heavy sign of accomplishment. I was exhilarated. I had actually done it! I set out to run a half marathon last fall, and here I was, holding a beautiful princess medal. Take that Cruella!!!

Four days later, I'm sitting in a hospital for 6 hours while my beloved grandmother gets a blood transfusion. She sleeps, peaceful looking, while the life force in a bag dangles from an ever beeping machine. The machine beeps join the soothing hums of TVs scattered about the room and the sound of determined nurses' steps as they travel from one patient to the next. I sit for nearly the entire time, while my grandmother is pumped full of two bags of A positive, with the hope that the blood will return some of her lost vitality.

Life is a fickle thing, isn't it? A crazy roller coaster. A fragile, unexpected, wild ride.

Finishing my first half-marathon and watching Grams get pumped full of blood are on opposite ends of the spectrum of the life scale. But during both, I had a lot of time to think. So, I've decided it's time I unveil my plan. One of the primary reasons I started blogging was to raise money for a charity while running an international race. Two of my favorite things: running and helping people.

During these hours of nothing but thinking, I've come to realize that as much as I complain about it, my life isn't so bad. I am blessed with a wonderful family, fantastic friends, an exciting career, health, goals, and dreams. When you're living with them, your problems seem like the worst. Insurmountable obstacles between you and your happiness. But in actuality, I have it relatively easy. Overcoming my personal challenges and completing the Princess Half has sparked a fire in me. I need to give back. I need to do more than write a blog saying "It gets better. You can do this." That's where the charity run comes in. The Princess race was for me, but now I need a race for others who need the finish line as much as I did.

My goal is to use this race to raise $1,000 for the charity of my choice. 10 miles times $100. Each of those dollars is equivalent to me giving my all, my 100% each and every mile. I plan on giving to either a charity that focuses on cancer research, or cancer patient support, or some sort of women empowerment. These issues are very close to my heart and I want to research which charity has values that mirror my own. Does anyone have any suggestions about potential charities? Which ones have you heard about or one that means something to you? I will definitely keep you posted on my charity research, but if anyone has advice, I'd love to hear it! 

The race:
I was researching races for a friend a few weeks ago when I found a 16k/10 mile race that starts at the base of the Eiffel Tower and finishes at the palace of Versailles. Some of the best half marathons for beginners are in Europe and the Paris-Versailles 16k is one of the oldest. Two and a half years ago, I strolled through Paris during my quarter life crisis trip, just taking in the beautiful city. I walked along the Seine, saw the Louvre, and ended my jaunt at the Eiffel Tower. And it took my breath away. One of the most famous manmade wonders of the world. Wow. And then, the next day, on a whim, I took the RER train out to the palace of Versailles. It was absolutely stunning. I still revere the palace as one of the most beautiful places I've ever had the privilege to visit. When I saw that there was a race connecting these two memories, I knew I had to. I HAD to!

I've found a greater purpose, something that will enrich my life and the lives of others. I will continue to challenge myself and train hard. I'm adding hills into my training as well as trying to speed up my pace. I want to continue pushing myself and getting healthier. And the icing on the cake? I will be able to give something back to the world while doing something I love.