Across the Finish Line

What an incredible event.  I would suggest everyone go through this exercise.

Let me tell you about my Friday.  First I had a great breakfast of two of the eggs, cheese and the apple I bought with my remaining money all with water as I was out of milk.  I too saw donuts being passed around at work but easily resisted that temptation as I rarely eat donuts anyway.  I ate my snack (a hard boiled egg) as soon as I got to work because I learned it was a bad idea to carry it to work in my pocket (LOL).  Lunch was the last packet of Ramen and a pretty good sized portion of cheese to finish that off as well.  Later in the day I spent $0.65 on a diet coke as I had not had one all week long.  This left me with $0.02 cents left of the $20.00 (if there was a prize for closest without going over I might have won it).  Dinner was still the stew but it was as good as ever.  I did have to drink water with it but I really was not hungry during this challenge except for the first few days as I prepared my plan for the week.  With better planning I know my diet would be more varied and I would actually enjoy things a bit more - stew for four or five meals in a week is a bit much for most anyone.  I end the challenge with stew remaining as well as some rice.  I might be able to go for one more day actually - but I am relieved that I do not have to.  I weighed myself as some had mentioned that I "looked thinner" and I am happy to report that appears to be a mirage as my weight today was exactly the same as it was a few weeks ago when I did the "know your numbers" challenge.  This was not a starvation diet nor was it inadequate to support my nutritional needs as I had feared at the beginning.

Today I woke to a two egg omelet with cheese but this time it also had some tomato's and I had some bread as well.  I know I will spend far more than $4.50 today on food but I am also much more conscious of how amazingly blessed I am.  Not just personally but professionally - to be able to serve at Legacy and contribute in some manner to helping those that face challenges we do not face.

I was humbled by Januari's post.  I am one of those people that see people buying crap with food stamps and I was, before this challenge, upset with them for what I thought was shameful waste.  Never again will I feel that way and I might just buy them a candy bar the next time I see one in the store.  To live on $4.50 per day and have enough left over every now and then to buy some "luxury" item is not wasteful or shameful at all - hell I know now it is good money management!

I too want to say how proud I am of the entire team and of Legacy.

play on!