it's extra special when it is friend to friend

Another Sunday early rising for 12 miles in the cold and fog but we had a really special field trip planned for today during our training walk. It was guaranteed to be great day because I had my new Jolly the Green Giant pants on!

A wee banana slug family on the trail as we were getting started.

Yes, it was just as cold as this photo makes it look along Crissy Field.

It's a good thing we warm up pretty quickly once we get going!

Yarn bombing on a tree.

Today's route is fondly nicknamed the "Butt Buster" because we walk up and over Divisadero!

And, then going down into Noe Valley. Sleepy Sunday morning.

 Such pretty colors. Summer zinnas are one of my favorites!

Peggy multi-tasking at our break at Whole Foods - snacking and clipping coupons!

On our way back we stopped by our event beneficiary, Friend to Friend for a site visit! Such a special treat. The shop is located in the lobby of the UCSF Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The shop is little oasis in the middle of a medical center nothing like a typical hospital shop. Clients are greeted warmly and helped with great discretion and compassion making the experience of selecting a wig, bra, prosthesis or head scarf. as positive as possible.

Chris Whilite, the shop manager, giving us a tour, telling us all about what they do in the shop, who they help & answering our many questions. Clients are referred by hospital social workers, city social workers and now, our other event beneficiaries. They help everyone who walks in the door in need.

 

A wall of wig options. The SF Opera Wig Master gives free wig trims once a month to clients free of charge. Shaping a wig to a person's features really helps it feel just a little more "normal" than one off the shelf.

Chris showing us a breast prosthesis. The weight and feel  of silicone is more natural versus foam inserts.

Yes, that price tag is what a good quality silicone prosthesis costs - $337.50. For many clients, this would simply not be affordable and some insurance does not cover them (or the replacement.) Friend to Friend gives these items to women in need free of charge. A quality prosthesis makes a huge difference in how a woman feels post-mastectomy - they have the weight and feel of a natural breast. 

They also offer so many bra choices for mastectomy and post-surgery.

 

Special cream to help ease pain and scarring from radiation. Many of the volunteers at the shop are also cancer survivors, so they can talk openly and honestly while sharing experiences, and listening.

 Our event flyer is featured on their Upcoming Event board!

Such a gratifying visit. We learned so much about the shop, what a sanctuary it is, how caring the people are who work and volunteer there and that the money we are raising will truly help people in need. We are so proud of partner with you, Friend to Friend and share your vision that no woman should go without items to help her regain a "whole sense of self" during (and beyond) her treatment and surgery. Thank you for all you do everyday to help make this world a little brighter!

Our new fundraising mantra: every dollar = care! 

And then we wrapped up our 12 mile back to back walks with our new favorite post-walk treat: Off the Grid Picnic at the Presidio! We have started meeting at the Transit Cafe and Off the Grid is across the street! 

Too many yummy options to choose from when you are hungry after a training walk!

I opted for fried chicken AND pork tacos AND a Bloody Mary! Get in my belly.

TODAY'S MAP QUOTES 

It is not selfish to pour into your own cup so that you can pour into others. It is not just a luxury. It is essential. Linda Wagner

The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers. Thich Nhat Hanh

WEEKLY INSPIRATION

I spied this frame at the Friend to Friend shop... kindness changes everything.

At the Immediate Impact Walk we are big on kindness. It is one of our core principles. And it is a practice, being kind, to others and to ourselves.

• Notice your self-talk (how you talk to yourself about yourself). If it seems negative, ask yourself if you would say this to a good friend and notice what happens.

• Practice treating yourself as well as you treat your friends, co-workers or family members.

• Sometimes, when we’re off or having a bad day, we start judging ourselves.  Practice letting your experiences, thoughts and feelings in, whatever they are.

• Take a break when you need one.

• Engage in basic self-care. Get enough rest, eat when you’re hungry (and stop when you’re not) and exercise when you can (be sure to pick something you like to do).

1. Practice being kind to yourself. This is very important because we’re often less kind to ourselves than we are to others—even strangers! Think about what kindness to yourself would look like, then try it. Need ideas?

2. It’s easy to be kind when were in a good mood. When we’re struggling, not so much. So next time you feel frustrated, angry or hurt, refrain from speaking or acting immediately. Take a moment. I help myself to remember this practice by using an acronym a teacher once gave me: S-T-O-P: S for stop, T for take a breath, O for observe what’s happening in and around you and P for practice responding rather than reacting.

3. Incline your mind toward kindness (and the positive emotions associated with kind action) by practicing “lovingkindness” meditation (see resources below). If you are skeptical about meditation, you can think of these exercises as practicing affirmations to bring kindness into your daily life as a way to increase well-being to the benefit of yourself and others. 

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