You could save a life

Janet Liang is 23. She's Chinese, and she needs a bone marrow transplant. She doesn't have much time left. 

Registration is quick and easy. I did it in a matter of minutes. Even if you can't help Janet, you might be a match for somebody else. After you register, within a week you should get a call confirming your interest. Then they'll send you a swab kit where you just swab the inside of your mouth. Easy peasy and it doesn't hurt! Send it back, and you'll be contacted if you are match for anybody in the network. 

Canadian Friends: Head on over to http://www.onematch.ca/ to join and become a donor

American Friends: Register online through Team Janet: http://join.bethematch.org/TeamJanet

Friends specifically in SoCal & NoCal: There are several drives taking place in the next few days, please take the time to find out your nearest location and head on over to register*:
http://www.asianmarrow.org/index.php/donor/list-of-drives (SoCal)
http://www.aadp.org/drive (NoCal)

*Registration is super quick and easy. Only requires a cheek swab + filling out a couple of forms.*

Janet's Website: http://www.helpingjanet.com/
Her blog: http://janetliang.wordpress.com/
Her FB page: https://www.facebook.com/helpingjanet


Update: In September 2012, Janet passed away after a three-year battle with leukemia. Her Facebook page posted the following:

Janet has served as an inspiration to all those who knew her. Her big heart and big smile was something that we all cherished. And although she never fulfilled her dream of being a teacher, she has taught us all one very important lesson: love. Despite battling leukemia for 3 years, she has always found it within her to make her situation more than about herself. Her campaign to raise awareness and advocate for bone marrow donors was for the love of her fellow human. She has certainly taught all of us to love one another, and live each day as if it were our last. After bravely fighting cancer for three years, she has finally found her peace.

Hello, 2012. I've been waiting for you.

It has been a few months since I've blogged. It's not for lack of time, but rather a lack of motivation.

But now, it's a new year, a chance for fresh starts. I have big plans for this year. I'm optimistic. I finished school, though I'm not certified yet because I have yet to meet the minimum speed requirements. My goal is to get the diploma within six months. It's on my bucket list after all. But at least I can say I'm done paying my college tuition! OSAP is next. On the professional front, I was recently offered the opportunity to work at the court reporting firm that I've been eyeing for the last two years! I'm starting to feel like my hard work is starting to pay off. Slowly, but surely. I know I have a looooong way to go. But it's nice to see some actual progress.

On the personal front, I've had to do a lot of soul searching lately. I'm not entirely convinced that I'm happy and I've been trying to figure out how to fill the void. I feel like life has gotten routine, almost boring. But then again, after a year of skydiving and outdoor adventures, anything else would seem boring =P I have a full season of snowboarding ahead of me, with dragon boat to look forward to in the spring. I'm trying to work out on a more regular basis, as I'm doing the Spartan Race this summer, and I'm determined to train for it, as opposed to my lackluster attempt last summer for the Warrior Dash. I'm hoping that these goals (I prefer to avoid the ever-so-popular "resolutions") can be achieved by taking baby steps and sharing the journey with others. Spartan Race, dragon boating, even snowboarding, they all involve other people. We push each other. My running mates will push me to train for the race, dragon boat is a team sport, and I'm constantly being encouraged by my friends to push myself harder when I board -- harder, faster, deeper, stronger (not just a dboat cheer!). I'm aiming for a grab with my board as early as this weekend.

I tried to cross "donating blood" off my bucket list last month, but after walking into a donor clinic without an appointment, I was turned away because they were fully booked. Lesson learned: book an appointment. So I did. I returned this week to give it another shot (no pun intended?) Unfortunately, this time, after some preliminary tests, I was told that my hemoglobin levels were too low to donate *sad face* With a level of 124, I was in the lower but still healthy range, but they needed at least 125 (I only missed by one!) to ensure that my body could afford to lose blood. That being said, I'm still determined to donate blood. I'm allowed to try again in 56 days, so I'll be eating lots of red meat and fibre and protein until then!

Another bucket list item I've been putting off until the new year: Project 365. Granted, I could have started at any time, but starting it at the beginning of a new year seemed appropriate. Follow it here: lisaproject365.tumblr.com

"...I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind."  --Neil Gaiman

In Memory

This isn't my story to tell.
It's not my place.

I never got to meet you. But I can feel your impact on my life just as much as if you were still here.  A year ago today, you left a gaping hole in the lives of those who loved you. It was unexpected. We never know how much time we'll have left. I'm trying my hardest to fill in the void that's left. It's hard. But not as hard as it has been for them. I'd give up anything for them to have one more day with you. They miss you.

Life is short. Live it to the fullest. Don't take it for granted. Tell the people you love that you love them.

You never know which day is your last.
Hug your children.
Hold your spouse’s hand.
Call your mother.
Simple gestures really, but I can tell you from experience that no matter how big or small the tragedy is, these simple gestures are what people in mourning want most — one more phone call, a shared laugh, a kiss on the cheek.
-LZ Granderson, "Hug your children while you can"

Rest in peace, Quoc.

It's never too early

This week, I came across an article about 17-year-old James Woodall, who died earlier this year after a cycling accident. Two months later, his parents found his bucket list hidden in a bedroom drawer. It was entitled, "Living a Full Life." He had managed to check off a few things, but for the most part, this list remained incomplete. Together, with the help of friends and other family members, his parents and sister have taken it upon themselves to complete James' bucket list for him. They include items such as living to 80, visiting every continent, and looking through a telescope at every planet. It's a touching but heart-wrenching story about a family trying to preserve their son's memory by living to the fullest.

The full article can be found HERE.

It's never too early to start a bucket list. It's been a while since I've knocked a few things off the list, mostly because my lack of funds has limited some adventures (scuba diving), and much of my time spent between work and school, although I know it's a poor excuse for putting off my bucket list.

That being said, it's been a while since I've added some items to my bucket list. Here are a few more:

-donate blood
-own a house
and, inspired by James,
-visit every continent

Without death, our lives would have no meaning.  Death frames our end for us and also puts a value on things.
—Richard J. Leider & David A. Shapiro, Claiming your Place at the Fire: Living the Second Half of Your Life on Purpose

The Art of Flight

And no, I'm not talking about planes...

September is here...which means 3 more months til snowboarding season! Financially, I won't be able to afford hitting up a "real" mountain (i.e. Colorado, B.C., Swiss Alps) this season, but this will have to tide me over for the time being. Art of Flight comes out this week. Watch in HD in full screen. Drooooool.

"We stand sideways. We sleep on floors in cramped resort hotel rooms. We get up early and go to sleep late. We've been mocked. We've been turned away from resorts that won't have us. We are relentless. We dream it, we make it, we break it, we fix it. We create. We destroy. We wreck ourselves day in and day out and yet we stomp that one trick or find that one line that keeps us coming back. We progress."  -- Burton Snowboards 

 

Summer lovin'

I'll be honest, I haven't done anything spectacular or bucket list-related lately. As much as I hate to admit it, my lack of finances has seriously hindered my ability to partake in some of my more...ambitious adventures. I've been living paycheque to paycheque for the last year and a half to pay for my ridiculously expensive private college tuition, on top of paying off my undergrad. As of this December, I'll have finished paying it all off (well, my college part anyways). Just in time to fly to Jamaica in February for a wedding. 2012 should be a much better year financially, as I hope to actually save money, instead of only paying off my loans. But for the next six months...I'm kind of screwed in the money department. Woops.

But all seriousness aside, it's not like I haven't done anything adventurous as of late!

On June 9th, I participated in Warrior Dash, "a mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme run from hell." Pretty much a giant obstacle course held at a ski resort. Lots of running, climbing, and getting dirty! Next year, I'm doing Spartan Race. Who's in?

Look at all the donated muddy shoes!

Yeah, I know it's epic.

Post-race

I celebrated my birthday in style -- surrounded my closest friends at Rey & Priya's wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony, and I wish them the best of  "love, laughter and happily ever after."

Veil sponsors for the Catholic ceremony

BBH boys! <3

I spent the rest of my birthday weekend at Blue Mountain and we went outdoor rock climbing -- my first time! -- and rode a jetski at Wasaga. We had even gotten tickets to ride the gondola up the mountain and ride RidgeRunner, a mini mountain coaster, but we ran out of time. Our tickets are still good for next time though!

Outdoor rock climbing was incredible.  I've got indoor rock climbing a handful of times, and I usually peak around the 5.9, 5.10 mark. We lucked out and ended up with our own private group; just the two of us plus the guide. She took us through five sites (Superman, Peanut Butter, Pickpocket...I can't remember the other 2). Everything went smoothly until the last one, Superman. It was incredibly difficult and challenging. I remember quitting halfway through my first try because I was so exhausted (meanwhile, the Mister somehow managed to conquer it on his first run). My second time, after 20+ minutes, I finally managed to climb to the top. There are no words to describe my mentality as I struggled to grasp a new ledge and push myself up, but I did swear quite profusely. If there's anything I took from that, it's that "if you want it badly enough, you can do it" is not just a cheesy cliche. I remember summoning up every..single..last..bit...of energy, and then some, to pull myself up. Definitely one of my proudest moments.

A third up the way on Superman, the hardest part

On the other side of the walls we climbed...

Financially, I'm gonna buckle down for the next few months. My funds are dangerously low...and I have a lot of expenses coming up still...so it looks like I'm gonna hang up the board for another season. An entire season, I think. *sad face* PADI certification, Camp of Champions and surf school will have to wait for another year =( I know this goes against everything my bucket list stands for, in terms of living in the moment and such...but I'd like to think I'm gonna be around for a few more years...and I've still gotta be realistic about the way I spend my money =P

The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color.

-Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

Gift of Life

I'm not sure when I decided I wanted to be an organ donor. But I don't think I've ever considered NOT being one. The way I look at it, if I no longer need organs or tissue that somebody else desperately needs, why not? The way our system works, however, is that we need to opt IN to the organ donation program, instead of opting out. There are thousands of people who are on the donor list, who will never live to get the transplant they need. We could save more lives if the program was opt-in by default and one would have to opt OUT if you did not want to donate your organs, for whatever reason.

Up until recently, the only way for a person to let others know they were an organ donor was to sign the little green card that comes with your driver's licence and let their loved ones know. Now, there is a website set up so you can register online and have a note on your health card to let doctors know, if such an event arises, that you are an organ donor. This is important, as you may not always have your card on you, and it ensures that your wishes are followed.

Go to www.beadonor.ca. The registration is quick, simple and all you need is your health card.

I know it's a slightly morbid way to look at things, but I don't see it as a way of preparing to die or anything of the sort. I see it as an opportunity to give life for those who have no other option. I see it as a choice I can make to share what I no longer need for those who need it most. If my last act is to save a life, or even eight, why not?

Note:
Beadonor.ca is an Ontario-specific site. More local information can also be found here at the Trillium Gift of Life Network
For my American readers, http://organdonor.gov

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.
-D. Elton Trueblood