Sunday, October 30, 2016

Imperfect is OK. Keep showing up.


On Thursday of this past week, I was exhausted. I had just driven back from a head-spinning, 36-hour trip to Fond des Blancs and was in Port au Prince to attend a meeting related to the hurricane response. By the time the meeting was over, I was tired, had a headache, and overall, wasn’t feeling well. All I wanted to do was go lay down, and get some rest. But I couldn’t, I had another meeting on nutrition that day at two o’clock. I knew if I didn’t attend I would be missing out on opportunities to advance our work to help those in need. So rather than rest, I went to get lunch. I quickly grabbed water, juice and a Gatorade, but I still felt horrible. My head was throbbing, I felt like I was overheating, and all I wanted to do was sleep. But I couldn't. I knew the importance of attending the meeting. And as I have done multiple times throughout the past few weeks, I thought back to my ultramarathon training. During my training, there were so many instances where it felt like the pain and uncertainty of being able to complete my first ultramarathon were going to overtake me. But somehow I found a way to keep moving forward, I kept pushing and the period of pain and uncertainty eventually passed.  On Thursday, by the time I was sitting down in the meeting, I still felt like crap. I wanted to be there, but my body most certainly did not. Then, like the many times I did during my ultramarathon training I just kept pushing forward, even if in this case, moving forward simply meant being able to sit through an hour-long meeting. Then, about 15 minutes into the meeting, I noticed my headache started fading away, my body temperature was regularizing, and for most part, I started to feel OK. While I was most certainly not at my best, I was able to make it through the meeting. And of course, the meeting turned out to be productive as I was able to build relationships to advance our work to help those in need. 

I know this isn’t the most exciting of stories, but the reason I am sharing it is because I have been through many periods like this before that were much worse and lasted much longer – days, weeks, and even months. Where the pain and uncertainty of the situation seemed too much to bear, and all I wanted to do was give up. And I know there are people out there right now who are in tough times and are struggling to keep moving forward in their given situation - at work, at home, with their health, whatever. I encourage those of you who are, or will be, in a period of pain and uncertainty and don't know if you are going to make it, to keep moving forward. Sometimes making it through a tough situation doesn’t require us to perform at our best, it simply means to keep showing up. While we can't know for sure if things will work out the way we want them to, what is certain is that if we give up, we will never even have the chance to make it. No matter how uncertain our futures may seem at times, or how slow our progress may be, we have to keep moving forward.    

Piti Piti - Little by Little, Step by Step, We Will Get There.

With love,
Kevin

http://etinspires.com/

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Haiti Hurricane Relief Update

This is shaping out to be much worse than initially realized (Flicker.com/minustah). It is like a tornado the size of a hurricane hit the western tip of the southern department.  Hundreds if not thousands dead. There are tens of thousands of people who are still cut off from all communication. Hundreds of thousands of people who lost everything and will be in a dire situation if relief is not provided.  The full scope will only become clear in the upcoming days and weeks. I have been relocated to the capital, Port au Prince, to help our organization collaborate with the Haitian gov't and large international organizations in coordinating the national response by connecting the large actors in the relief efforts with information and organizations on the front line. The relief organizations are trying to avoid the same mistakes made after the earthquake and are making it a point to collaborate with the government, which is much more prepared this time, but still overloaded. We need support in every which way as our hospital is preparing to continue serving as the primary referral hospital for the southern peninsula. We need your help.  Thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated, but donations are needed. www.haitihealth.org.  With over 30 years of producing real results in Haiti, you can be confident that your donation will lead to real impact on the ground.

With love,
Kevin

Gand'Anse Department which is still mainly cut off to all supplies.  photo credit: flicker.com/MINUSTAH






Thursday, July 21, 2016

LIVING CONDITIONS IN HAITI

When my own sister asked me about my living conditions at the place I have now been living for a year, I realized it was time to write about my living conditions in rural Haiti.  This one is for you Julie.

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I just got back from a 4-week trip to The States where I had the chance to see many friends and family.  In all of the conversations I had with people, I would have to say the most common question asked was, "What are your living conditions like down there?"  While I was slightly tempted not to share this information, knowing it would break some people's image of me living in a dirt-floor hut, I knew it was best to share my reality... and the reality of living conditions for people in Haiti.

As you will see below, I am very fortunate.  I live in relatively good conditions.  I have running water, electricity, a refrigerator, and a gas stove.  All things not commonly found in a home in Haiti.  

Security gate and wall.
Common for big houses in rural areas, necessary in the city.
My place is the two story building on the left.
*Just like in the states, city life varies greatly from rural life.

When barbed-wire isn't available,
you compromise
with broken shards of glass.


















The entrance to the lower (aka my) apartment.
I share it with a doctor and physical therapist (and her baby)
working at the hospital - both are native Haitians.
...the baby doesn't yet work at the hospital ;)

Not everything is perfect...
currently keeping some things
out of my room to work 
against a mold problem

This one should be self-explanatory.
Fortunate to have consistent power to the fan.
There is no power in town, ours comes from a generator.
















Notice the propane tank for our gas stove...
no  city gas lines running through the town

















One of the few houses in the community with a refrigerator, microwave, 
and running water in the kitchen... 

    and running water in the bathroom.         Note the water-bottle in the corner.
  Most people in Haiti do buck showers.     I use bottled water to brush my teeth.
                                                               The tap water is not safe to drink.

Rain water collection and a tank for holding water to pump to the roof....
cold water that is, no hot showers here....not that you need them!
When it doesn't rain often enough, we get water brought in by a truck
filled manually with 5 gallon buckets from a spring 2 miles away.

In a nutshell, those are my living conditions.  This is what I call home.

And if homes in Haiti were ranked into four tiers, I would say I live in the third tier of housing.  It is certainly above normal standards, but is not the nicest place you can find in Haiti.  Contrary to popular knowledge, there is money in Haiti.  And many people spend it on housing.  This can be seen in the example below.


What I would consider the upper tier of housing in Haiti
Check it out on AirBnB





























While beautiful, the example above, and the conditions in which I live, are not the norm.  More than have the population lives off less than $2.42 per day...59% to be exact (source: World Bank).  The average person in Haiti can only dream of living conditions like mine...or most people in The States.  For most people in Haiti, they live in something equivalent to what you see below.


Common house in rural Haiti.
http://media.trb.com/media/photo/2010-11/84956460-18123248.jpg

The people owning these houses usually have some form of steady income and I would consider the equivalent of America's middle class.  Yet, they cook with coal, shower and clean with bucket water fetched by foot, and, depending on where they live, might have electricity.

But there are many people in Haiti who have been born into very unfortunate circumstances and money is extremely hard to come by.  Daily life is a grind.  These are the people living in what I would consider the lowest tier of housing in Haiti.  Just like above, there is no running water, no electricity, no cooking gas...no refrigerator.  But now, an outhouse serves as their toilet and even the structure of the house itself is questionable.  It is sure to come down in the hurricanes that frequent the region.  These people are the poorest of the poor.

 

Only 28 % of the population has access to improved sanitation, aka a flushing toilet.
Only 58 % of the population has access to an improved water source, aka a piped water source, not necessarily piped into their house.  (Source: CIA World Factbook)


These people are the reason I am grateful to have running water, electricity, a refrigerator, a toilet, a gas stove.  These people are the reason I consider myself fortunate.


Thanks Julie for pushing me over the edge to share this type of information that I didn't think people were interested in.


Saturday, June 4, 2016

I'd rather be surfing

I don't like the fact that non-profit organizations exist.  Yes, you read that correctly, I don't like the fact that non-profit organizations exist.  Those organizations providing services to vulnerable people that public and private programs cannot support.  I work for one.  I have collaborated with many.  But I dislike the fact they need to exist.  I want to live in a world where we don't need non-profit organizations to fill needs not met by public and private entities.  I want to live in a world where our public and private sectors ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to live a healthy and prosperous life, and supports those who unfortunately cannot.

Why must our society rely on non-profits to fill major gaps in support for the most vulnerable of persons?  Why, with all the money, technology, and intelligence in this world, cannot we not create a society providing everyone equal opportunity to live a healthy and prosperous life?  Why must non-profit organizations struggle to secure funding to provide basic services for the most vulnerable people?

I don't have answers to these questions.  So I continue to work for a non-profit organization, doing our best to provide people with the best opportunity to live a healthy and prosperous life.  I am dedicated to this work.... but I would rather be surfing.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

RUNNER STORY - LOUISE

I have always been impressed and inspired by my mom's transition into sports at a later stage in her life, especially running.  Having her first run be 0.25 miles at age 51, and then increasing by 0.1 miles per week all the way up to a half marathon a year and a half later, so impressive.  Almost hard to imagine.

After reading my mom's self-written story published in a newsletter for her upcoming race (see below), I am reminded of how impressive my mom is, and not just in terms of running.  Whether taking care of our family, getting her degree, or running, her persistence and dedication is truly incredible.  After having taken care (and continuing to take care) of our family for so long, helping us in whatever endeavor we pursued, I am so happy she has been able to find and follow her own.  


RUNNER STORY – LOUISE
Redding Road Race Newsletter - 4/6/16

So here’s my story…. Not too inspirational and not too well written, but it’s my story.

For almost 16 years I was a SAHM (Stay at home mom) raising my four children. My life was all about them. I knew the day would come when there would be time for me. They were only going to be young once. When the youngest started middle school I returned to work full time at the University of Hartford. After two years of adjusting to working full time I began some changes not only for my physical improvement but also to challenge myself intellectually.

A co-worker encouraged me and in January 2001 I took my first college class. I had never taken any college classes. One class led to the next, which led to the next. In May 2005 I completed an Associate’s Degree (in running, a half marathon). I then continued taking classes one at a time until I eventually completed my bachelor’s degree in 2013 (the full marathon). Summa cum laude I might add! Obtaining my degree opened doors for better opportunities for me at the University. As Assistant Secretary of the University I now sit in on Board meetings and Executive Committee meetings of the University. Fun stuff!

In those 12 ½ years while taking classes so much happened in my life. Four children began and completed their bachelor’s degrees, two received their master’s degrees, two children got married, three grandchildren were born (we currently have six), my father in law passed away, my father moved in with us, my father went to a nursing home, my father passed away, and my husband Robert was diagnosed with colon cancer. Life was passing by in the fast lane while I was chugging along in the slow lane. Around the time I started taking classes, I decided to improve my physical fitness too. I was 41. My husband had always been an avid cyclist, so I thought I would try that. My first ride out was on September 4, 2001. We rode six miles. I remember the date since it was exactly one week before 9/11. That first fall I put about 400 miles on my bike and I was hooked. Subsequent years I clocked over 1500 miles on my bike each year, including two centuries, one of which was a charity ride from Boston to Hyannisport.

I continued cycling and at age 48 I bike rode the coast of Maine. Three hundred miles in five days. My favorite story occurred in Portland. I was stopped trying to figure out how to cross a river without having to go on the highway. Another cyclist stopped to assist. When I told him what I was doing, I think he was impressed as he asked “Wow, that’s cool…. Cause how OLD are you?” I took that as a compliment. I’ve also completed New Hampshire, ½ of Massachusetts and 2/3 of Connecticut. Mostly all on Rte 1.

In the fall of 2011 I decided I needed a new challenge. My daughter Julie was the runner in our family, having completed numerous marathons and even more half marathons. So I started running at age 51. My first run on the treadmill was .25. That’s right, a quarter of a mile. I did that three times the first week and then increased it to .3 for a week. Then .4 for a week. When I got to one mile, the weekly increases were .2, until I got to three miles. I completed my first 5K at the O’Hartford race in 2012. I went to the race with my husband’s encouragement but not his presence. He had just been released from the hospital from his colon cancer surgery and encouraged me to go. My daughter Julie did the race with me, coaching me along the way. At the end of the race she stated “I’ll meet you at the car….I’m going to go running now”. OUCH, I guess I was too slow for her.

I continued running, completing a few more races including the Manchester Road Race. In spring of 2013 I increased my running and checked out a training schedule for a half marathon. I was now 52 year’s old. Just looking at the schedule one week at a time wasn’t too intimidating and so I continued my training. The 10 weeks brought me to the first weekend in June when the Ironhorse Half Marathon is held in Simsbury. That was the perfect race for me. So close to my house that I even did some training on the course. My first half marathon was going to happen. I completed it on June 2, 2013 under extreme heat conditions. The RDs had us walking at the end since they had run out of ambulances. I had listened to my body and felt great. But I did say ONE and DONE. I did one more 5K in July 2013 and then running tapered off for me. I returned to mostly cycling.

In 2014 we bought a pool so that we could enjoy some time with the grandchildren. Every afternoon I enjoyed floating around and would do a few laps around the perimeter before calling it a day. When we closed the pool at the end of the summer, I moved to an indoor pool and would do the doggy paddle for a few laps then walk a few laps. After purchasing goggles, I actually started swimming like a real person, doing a pretty decent freestyle stroke. Around March 2015, I swam a full mile. I was happy to share that with my daughter’s cross country coach, Kathy Manizza, who is also a tri-athlete. She encouraged me to do an indoor TRI. Which I did in April 2015.

It was time for another challenge. I felt good enough to do a sprint triathlon. Since I hadn’t run a 5K race in almost two years at this point, I found a local race and did my “training triathlon”. I bike rode to the gym, swam a half mile, bike rode to the race, ran the 5K, then bike rode home. At this 5K in West Hartford, I met Richard, a member of the Run 169 Towns Society. He talked about the group and I listened. I went to their website and even registered as a member. Summer of 2015 was spent training for my sprint triathlon.

I completed my first triathlon, a Women’s Sprint Tri, in August 2015 at age 55. It was a great feeling. I didn’t consider myself a runner, but the running portion of the tri was my best event. If you don’t know, when you do a tri, they write your age on the back of your calf. I’m not sure why, but they do. That was my motivator. The run was a trail run which I had NEVER done before. My confidence rose so much as I kept passing ladies who were younger than me. I actually got quite the attitude as I passed these women. My running time placed me in the middle of the runners!

After that was over I was now in the best shape I had even been. I had lost 17 pounds and felt great. Now what could I do to keep the momentum going? Ah… that Run 169 group, maybe I’ll do that. So on September 7, 2015 I began the journey of running a race in every town in CT. I would be so much further ahead on the trek if I had done some official 5Ks while training for the tri last summer. Oh well, the towns aren’t going anywhere. As of this writing I have 51 towns complete and Redding will be town # 60. Once in a while I’m lucky and get to place in my age group. I have also started to run races when I visit other states. Four down, 46 to go! I’m a RUNNER!!! I’m keeping track of my races with a pictures and notes.

So now I’m going to be running my second half marathon at the Redding Road Race. The friends I have met through the Run 169 Towns Society are just awesome. They are the reason I’m registered for this race. Stacey Fulton and Lori Riley, thanks for the push. Contrary to all the whining I have done, this has brought me to the next level and I thank you. My neighborhood runs have gone from four miles to six miles to eight, to ten. Last week’s training run was 14.5 miles with eight of those miles with Kelly Pabilonia, who will be one of the pacers at the Redding Road Race.

My daughter has given me my next challenge…….. a marathon. YIKES. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. So here’s to 26.2 at age 56 next fall.
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She is the true definition of "Piti Piti" - little by little we will get there.