ROSALIE

Rosalie

This is your legal name. You never use this name. I am one of only a few people that know your real first name. We met in 2012 as business associates. I never anticipated how dear of a friend you would become to me.

You are dear to me not because of our friendship--although I would not trade it for anything in the world. You are an “Angel” among women.

I have watched over the years as your trademark “Heart Of Gold” has served many families and non profits in our county and surrounding areas.

I have seen you give: time, talents and treasures to others while sacrificing your own needs, health, goals and desires. I truly have not ever heard you speak of something you wish for outside of your charity group.

The world is a much better place because you are here!

When thinking of you--I simply do not know how you manage all the responsibility and organization.

You may not know this but I stand in awe of you!

As your friend though my heart tells me that it is time to speak candidly about self care with you. You may think you practice a little self care--but you need so much more time for yourself. Time to think about your needs. Time to work on health goals. Time to plan a vacation with your domestic partner. Time just to “BE”

Throughout the years I have watched you organize fundraisers for a variety of local causes. You plan , prepare, organize a team of volunteers, collect funds, advertise, promote and then set up, work the event, and clean up. Sometimes 3 times a week.

There is always a project you are working on to help others. You may garner some support but we all know the 80/20 rule 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work. It applies in your charity group as well.

I will never forget Christmas Day 2017. There was an apartment fire. Fifty Five units burned out. You were on the scene all day. You got on Social Media and in a matter of a few hours had clothing, housewares, toiletries and other essential items for the families. Your “Network” of friends delivered so much some had to be donated to charity. This would not have happened without “YOU”. It was your network of love and your kindness that came together on Christmas day. Your Boyfriend also was there on the scene. He cooked food for the firefighters all day so they would be nourished- as the fire took almost 8 hours to extinguish.

I have seen you drop everything on a night you were taking off to binge watch TV and chill because a family needed food. You raced to the keyboard and Social Media alerted us that if we were in the area of the family to get food to them because they had small children with nothing to eat. You managed this from your PC but the managing of the volunteers and the deliveries and the coordination with the family took at least 2 hours. That is 2 hours out of your time for your needed rest. There is nothing restful even when you are at home about getting food to a needy family in an emergency situation.

Whenever there is a need your phone is the first to ring. My fear is that if you do not take care of yourself-you will not be there to help others. You are the heart and soul of the organization. I fear it will fall apart without you at the helm.

Health goals. You have health challenges. It must be hard to manage them with all your other responsibilities. I worry that you are not managing them because it would take time away from your charity work.

I remember following your weight loss plan on social media. When you announced the latest loss of 33 pounds. I was elated. Your weight loss would help with many of your health challenges. Managing healthy food choices while working full time and running a charity could not have been easy. Your weight loss stopped after the loss of 33 pounds. I can speculate that your days were just too full to worry about adding the additional stress.

Rosalie you mean the world to me! You are the strongest woman I know!

All women are strong. We have to be! I encourage you to re-discover “Little Rosalie." Nurture her! Take time to set goals for your life and make plans that do not include the charity work. Go on a weekend away with your boyfriend. Enjoy life and rest. You have definitely earned some rewards in life.