Race for Life

Last Sunday it was. 2500 women running jogging or walking the 5k that make the difference.

But what difference did it make to me?

When I started training for the run after the first five minutes I had to stop to catch my breath and... my legs that were leting me down. Three months later after the help and support of my "personal coach" Jane I could do the whole 5k non-stop in 30 minutes under extreme conditions (english summer heat!).

So I am proud of myself. It is not only the physical stamina I gained. I gained the belief that I can do things that I never thought possible, and more than that... to like them.

One more thing. I have to admit that up to now I did not believe in active forms of charity. I signed up more as a result of group pressure (come on girl... you know you can do it!). I did not try to raise any money apart from the sum I donated myself. It might be because of the charity culture of Greece, where asking for money for any organization is similar to asking for a cigarette from a stranger on the street. Rude if nothing else.

Now I am actually thinking to go for the 10k and do it for real! Raising money and feeling that I am helping for a good cause.

It took some running for my participation in civil society to kick in ;)

Not being Olga

This entry is dedicated to al the critics of the internet that condemn it for isolating people, keeping them away from life, from meeting other people, from having deep emotions.

It just took one wrong email. A long wrong email, I have to admit. I read it and I became a part of the life of two people I never knew and I would have never known if it wasn't for the internet.

James, very intelligent and successful man, still in love with Olga. And Olga far away from him and the life they had together, already deciding to share her life with another man. It is a common story, has happen to almost everyone. Myself included.

Out of pure coincidence I received it and I became part of James' feelings. I knew what it was to be him for a moment. I thought I knew exactly how he felt, all the frustration, all the pain, all the anticipation. And then I remembered... Olga was my part, I have been somebody else's Olga and it is very possible that I still am.

And now that I know how it feels to be James, what should I do not to cause all the pain that an Olga can provoke? Up to now I thought that Olgas were the victims... but James opened my eyes…

But these questions, being so big and torturing, only led me to email James back and adding to his embracement to inform him I was not Olga....

Olgas not always know what they cause. Olgas sometimes leave to protect themselves and lose the bigger picture.

I am sorry James.