Pink Ribbon….
it's a huge fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. It's not just in the USA…it's something that is important globally, including China.
The kids raised a little bit of money AND got to dress up in pink for the day:
25 October 2014-
Pink Ribbon Ball
Balls and I do not get along. We clash. We fight. We argue. We do not have a mutual understanding or respect for one another. And yet I went to the Pink Ribbon Ball (for a good cause!).
Let me back up a few days and tell you why I was a little grumpier than usual that week. The previous Sunday I was signed up to run the Beijing half-marathon. However, due to a series of issues – including extremely HORRIBLE air quality- I canceled the run. Well, running in Beijing anyway. Instead I jogged 25km on my treadmill. Straight. For two hours. My hips, knees, body were NOT OKAY with that decision and screamed in agony and pain. As a matter of fact, it took until the beginning of January 2015 for my body to (mostly) heal. Yeah. Not good. I mean, REALLY NOT GOOD. So you can imagine how painful it was to walk in high heel shoes (what the freaking heck was I thinking anyway????).
And I was just generally in a rotten mood.
Sorry.
It happens.
I don't do well in large social situations. I am terrified about making small talk. Even with people I know. I have nothing interesting to say anyway. I honestly assume that nobody is interested in talking to me as there are so many more other interesting people out there. It's true. Low self esteem isn't a pretty thing and it's very challenging to live with on a good day. On a day when you're already grumpy and in a lot of pain (which I just COULD NOT admit to anyone else) is not a good thing.
So…here is a group of my absolutely GORGEOUS and STUNNING friends (I refused to be in this photo; guess I was feeling very down about myself and not feeling as beautiful as my friends are):
Sitting around our table (at the beautiful Astor Hotel). Frances, you crack me up!
Yasemin and the ever lovely Quay:
Quay and Kathy (two very lovely women!):
and…
brace yourself.
Here's the ONLY photo of me from that night. A selfie with Jen. Thank you Jen!I ended up aborting the party rather early…I actually did want to dance but I was in too much freaking pain (and like I said I didn't want to admit that I was in pain to anyone).
Comments
2 responses to “Pink Ribbon 2014”
Astrid, the last picture makes it clear you don’t give yourself enough credit. You are stunningly gorgeous and those other ladies don’t have a thing on you. On top of that, you are creative, an excellent cook, adventurous, artistic, a wonderful mom….I could go on and on. Wish I could make you see how the rest of us see you. Big hugs, sweetheart.
I bet if you asked the rest of those lovely friends, at least a third of them were feeling the same things. And I only say one third because a lot of the women who were feeling that way weren’t brave enough to go in spite of it.
As Amy said you have so much to offer, and your beauty is just a small part of it. Don’t sell yourself short!