This book was PERFECT for me today! It’s all about embracing your “inner sparkle”!
The timing is uncanny, because just as when I received “It Doesn’t Matter,” I was questioning my identity as The Sparkle Fairy. I’d been questioning it again and here in the mail is another validation that I should keep doing what I’m doing!

Thank you Flower Faerie-Elf and Thank you Fairy Godmother!
I love you!!!!! I am truly BLESSED!!!

Thank you!

–yvonne (in Sweden)

I’m not sure if you will see this but I’m so glad you received the flowers!!! Welcome back to Charlotte!!! Let me know if I can help in any way.

~Willow

Love, Katie

I also think it’s absolutely beautiful that you are channeling your gift to the polar bear plunge in support of ALS research. And are you really going to jump into the ocean in February? Because woo-boy that is going to be C-O-L-D!

I hope you have a fun and fast plunge, and then follow it with several mug-fulls of steaming hot chocolate, and a long, beautiful, rich and happy life.

All my best to you, K.!

Last week, my friend’s wife had a brain aneurysm and died suddenly, leaving an extremely devoted husband and two young children behind. It was devastating news but all I could (guiltily) think was “How lucky am I?”.

I am the nurse’s assistant in a subacute rehabilitation facility where most of our patients need a LOT of help with daily activities, and some are severely affected by anxiety and dementia. My paperwork was piling and piling up, the phones were ringing off the hook, and by Wednesday I was near tears knowing I just couldn’t catch up. I needed to file and regroup and make appointments and call doctors and enter orders and answer questions for the families of 60 patients…but poor Mr. P. kept trying to get out of his wheelchair and stand up with a broken hip because his brain just didn’t understand where he was or why. I had to constantly stop what I was doing to keep him seated and try to soothe him.

I am also in a very demanding nursing school program. After work two nights a week I go to another rehabilitation facility to do 5.5 hours of work with another patient. I am nervous and I feel so inadequate sometimes. After two 15 hour days, I go back to work on Friday and the whole weekend I try to catch up on all of my homework.

My boyfriend of 3.5 years would do anything for me (and does!), and I feel like I don’t do enough for him. I am cranky and tired when I get to see him once a week, and he is doing ten times more than me and fighting an uphill battle himself.

My point is, I am constantly torn between feeling like I’m doing too much and then feeling like I have it SO GREAT and I wish I could give the tiny bit of energy I have left to all of these people who need it SO MUCH MORE. I imagine my friend who is trying to get through each hour missing the woman he loved and shared his life with for over a decade. I think of Mr. P’s daughter who has to go to work and leave her dad in his confused and pained state. I feel for the other women in my class who are fighting to get through this program ON TOP OF having kids who need them at home. I think of my boyfriend who is just trying to check things off his own list and still puts them on the back burner to help me…

Today, I received my gift from you, and it meant so, so much. Next week, I am doing my 4th annual polar bear plunge for a local charity to support ALS research. For those of you in sunny climates who may not know, we collect pledges from people who want to see us jump into New Jersey’s Atlantic Ocean (which is just above freezing in February!). Please know that giving my gift from you to this charity IS a gift to myself, because it’s what keeps me going day in and day out. An opportunity to pay it forward is the only thing that gives me peace, and you have given that to me.

Thank you for listening to all of that and for your immensely generous work.

Anyway, as far as I’m concerned, this world needs WAY more Ashleys. Thank you for writing!

One of the things I hope to do with with my little bonus this year is stocking up on seeds, planting seedlings, and teaching local people about organic gardening. While not all people are into the horsey aspect of my farm, a lot of people are interested in learning how to grow their own food! My husband has some student from a local tech school wanting to come learn about sustainable practices.

Just wanted to let you know that the wealth is being passed . What a wonderful way to help people in their hearts and minds…..keep up the great website and wonderful surprises for deserving people!