Me sporting one of Erika's gifts
As my participation in TGAAD is nearing it’s 8th month, I’ve come to realize that this is not merely a little social experiment. TGAAD is, in fact, a group of REAL flesh-and-blood people from across the world who, together, have created a community – a caring, supportive alliance. Whether it’s empathic comments and feedback on one another’s entries, clothing swaps organized amongst geographically close members, or offers of support for fellow participants, I see the manifestation of that caring community on the pages of this blog every day.
For me, personally, the support of TGAAD has taken the form of encouraging feedback on my blogs about our family’s struggles with unemployment, kind words about my weight loss successes, and generally supportive replies to my various posts. I know that I’m a part of a warmhearted network of women here!
I was impressed all-the-more recently when Erika – a Seattle dieter I’d never met – made a very thoughtful and generous offer. After reading my entry about needing clothes for a new part-time job, she e-mailed me photos of three lovely work blouses she no longer wears. She thought they’d be my size and offered to send them to me if I was interested!
I ask you… how cool is that!? We’re essentially complete strangers living on opposite coasts of the country, but she cared enough to reach out to me in this way and offer her help.
Appreciative of Erika’s offer, I immediately took her up on it and, not long thereafter, I received my three new blouses in the mail. I tried them on straightaway, and was thrilled to find that all fit perfectly. Yay! Christmas in June!
I have already had an opportunity to wear one of the blouses (photo above) and can’t wait for a chance to do so with the others. As a newly-working woman, I know they will play a huge role in carrying me through to September 1st on this diet.
Well, I guess what I really want to say here is THANK YOU, Erika, for your kindness and generosity… and thanks to ALL of my fellow “dieters” for your support and for creating the caring community that TGAAD has become! Keep on encouraging one another on your respective journeys… You guys rock!
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Super cool!!!
Oh my goodness, you’ve made me tear up. Thanks for such a public thank you–I can’t tell you how glad I am that those blouses are going to work again, and you were so kind to post a photo–it looks great on you! I feel just the same about TGAAD–what a privilege to have made so many wonderful new contacts and friends–thanks to Cathy and to you all!
This movement has caused more personal growth than many of us probably realize; it is not just torturing yourself for a year with nothing new and fun to wear (besides underwear!!)
I really appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into Erika’s act of sharing. It would be so easy to think about it and then just let the thought go – no action – just a thought. Just like some of the thoughts of posts I could do, but didn’t since I fell off the wagon pretty bad on vacation. Since then I done better but have purchased a couple items. But I haven’t felt deprived and have rediscovered clothes I loved stuck in the back of my closet. I now think very carefully before a purchase – I have to love it and know it won’t be discarded in a couple months. I don’t plan on going back to my old habits and am very thankful I joined this movement.