Dove's "Campaign for Real Beauty" inspires women of all ages to embrace their God-given features.
After an overwhelmingly long, yet too short, stressful day, I am winding down by listening to some relaxing, contemporary religious tunes. Let me tell you, it is a long-anticipated respite from stressing over Sunday-night homework. I’m a pretty good student, but a chronic procrastinator when it comes to fairly easy assignments.
I think I’ve been glued to my office chair for too long. Yesterday evening, as I sat here in basically the same position, performing basically the same task, I twisted impulsively in my seat– followed by a killer muscle spasm in the left side of my lower back. GREAT. You’d think that having spina bifida would fulfill my back-injury-quota for life, right? Irony sucks. Well, let’s hope it’s just temporary muscle strain and nothing else!
Still, I was able to take a break from homework and go out with Mom and my grandmother to Don Pablo’s. Where once again, I was reminded that I do not possess a bottom-less stomach. Nothing major, really. Just too many chips and salsa lead to heartburn!
I wanted to write to Dove today, because I know they have an awesome campaign for mentoring young girls so that they will have a healthy self-esteem.
Now, on a more serious note, I was beginning to get very discouraged these past few weeks. I had contacted a nurse at the local Spina Bifida Clinic here in Orlando, whom I’ve known for years. I told her about the blog. She didn’t sound as enthused as I would have anticipated. She actually said (and I quote), “You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.” I have to say, it was a huge blow, straight into my gut. Let me clear it up now, so there’s absolutely zero confusion: I am not trying to “reinvent” the wheel! Not by any stretch of the imagination. But, it has to be said– these are the facts: Last week, I received a phone call from a woman in the Washington State area who is very active in her SBA chapter. the SBA of Wisconsin promised to mention this blog in an upcoming newsletter. Today, the South Florida chapter joined our Facebook group. And what have I heard from my Central Florida chapter during all this time? Not a word. Well, silence speaks volumes. So today, after what has been brewing inside me for so many days, I had another mini-meltdown. I don’t know why I expect so much of myself. I am only human. And, to quote the Bible, “For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country” (John 4:44). So be it. Even if I don’t have the support of the Central Florida chapter right now, I am humbled to have the support of so many, and all over the country, at that! Thank God for that.
Besides, I never wanted to be a prophet– I just wanted to make a difference.
Thanks to those of you who lift me up in moments of weakness!
© 2009, Laura. All rights reserved.
It doesn’t surprise me that you haven’t heard from anyone from the local chapter. They’ve never been proactive in their own chapter which is part of the reason I left.
*SIGH*…don’t I know it! LOL.
Keep you focus on the goals, Laura, not those who throw a wrench in the path. Just step over the wrenches and keep moving forward.
Those who need to be touched by your efforts will be. Don’t put forth energy on those who will not.
Your goals are worthy of your patience.
You have a good day.
(PS. Love the fact that you are a scripture reader.! WHOO HOO! HA!)
Hey Laura-
Just wanted to let you know that you were in the newsletter for the West Michigan chapter!
You may not have the support of your own chapter…but you have ours! Keep it up girl! When you start to feel down, take a look at my blog http://www.ourlittlegibblet.blogspot.com and know that you are helping him!!! Thanks so much!!!!!!! 
Leigh
Leigh,
Thanks again so much for following my blog! Your own blog is really beautiful. Greyson is going to be a real heartbreaker someday!
Do you know how I can access the newsletter for West Michigan? Is it online? Please let me know if there is a way that I can obtain a copy of it. I’d love to see it, and share it with my blog’s readers.
God Bless (especially little Greyson!),
Laura
Hey Laura,
The newsletter was actually emailed, so I can just forward it on to you.
Leigh
Hey Laura,
(sorry for this long comment)
I started following your site and I think the whole thing is a great idea. My daughter was born with T5-level SB 14 months ago. We got the diagnosis at the 15th week of my wife’s pregnancy and it was devastating news. I searched the internet for information and was surprised to learn that there was no one-central-source that gave me the info that I, as an expecting father needed.Today Annabelle is doing great although she is a para.
My goal is to create the website that I wish someone would have created for me. The beginnings are at http://www.sbguide.blogspot.com . My wife and I hope to set up a non-profit that will fund an actual website complete with various chat groups etc.
I don’t want my daughter to grow up feeling any more isolated than necessary and I want her to have a place to go on up into her adulthood where she can feel a sense of community.
I say ALL THAT only to say, no sooner did I start the project than all different areas of my life BLEW UP and I have had to shelve the project temporarily. It has been so frustrating but we are taking the looooong view on this. It may take YEARS but we are committed to seeing it through and I just wanted to encourage you as well.
Who knows, our SB super-star my be some little 5th-grader who doesn’t know he is the next Brad Pitt yet . . . You will get it done – and so will we!
Blessings,
Matt
Hi Matt!
No worries…I write a lot, as well! I’d love to add your blog to my resources page and to my blogroll, if that’s okay. It seems very thorough and covers a lot of ground. Awesome!
Blessings to you, your wife, and your little girl.
Laura
Dove’s latest TV jingle is superb! It is upbeat and
positive, making the saddest person happy. It includes these words in the song,” Does your hair make you giggle?
My deceased grandmother was an affcicionata of good music, and if alive today she would sing the
praises of the dove beauty soap TV musical TV ad!
Keep it up ……..That’s my kind of music!-Reverend
Joe Allen, Johnstown, Pa.
Hi Reverend Allen:
I’m so glad that you’re happy with my contacting Dove. Unfortunately, Dove will not be an advocate for the Spina Bifida cause. But I will definitely keep at it!