That’s one of my favourite quotes. It’s one that’s been ringing in my head since last Wednesday when the internet ROCKED MY WORLD and showed me just how much people care. And how much people can do. Because internet? You are getting it done.
You really are on fire right now. Not “what’s that smell?” sort of fire, but “Whoooo! LOOK AT US GO!” sort of fire. As of today, YOU have raised over $3,000 for multiple myeloma research. THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Cue confetti!
Not only that, the loveharder shop is selling stuff at a rapid pace and the loveharder blog is up and running! Seriously, I’m exhausted and I’m not doing any of it. Laurie deserves heaps of praise for tackling this project. Also, Lilu’s video? Over THREE THOUSAND views on youtube. (*Probably a thousand of them are from me, I’m seriously addicted to watching it over and over and spotting everyone!)
So here’s the thing. Last week was amazing and we don’t want this to stop. Here is what you can do to keep this going:
- Submit a video! Answering the question: “What Inspires You To Love Harder?”. This is open to everyone, but 20sb’ers especially? I know you love vlogging. So show the world what inspires you. (Extra points if it involves cheese products, bubble baths or movies starring Colin Firth. ACTUALLY- extra points if you combine all three of those somehow. Oh Colin. Swoon). Videos due Sunday, January 31st, submit to : theloveharderfund@gmail.com
- Stop by the Shop. Valentine’s Day is coming up, spread the love by shopping for something special here that’s going to help an amazing cause. (I bought the hoodie and a t-shirt- and just tried to think of some clever way to work the phrase ‘my heart is on my sleeve’, but I really just don’t have it in me right now. I’m not that creative on a Sunday night).
- See if you can volunteer your web designing services. (Sadly, I cannot volunteer to do this, since the idea of changing my header causes me to break out into hives. Speaking of- I WANT a new blog design. Of course I’m willing to pay- in cash or salt- whatever is preferred. Who do you recommend?).
Thank you again for everyone who has participated in making our difficult time into a reason to work for change. H.A.D and I are both incredibly grateful.
Also? The Secret Project won the 20sb award for “Best Blog Project” so keep your submissions coming! I will be posting new secrets up tomorrow. And to the person who emailed me tonight with their secret involving rootbeer? Let’s get married.
Oh! Also, a huge thank you to everyone who voted for me here. Best Twitterer. Seriously. This makes me giggle. I have no freaking clue even how to link my twitter site to my blog, so for those wonderful people who found me on twitter and voted- virtual internet high fives! (@brandyismagic) is my twitter name. Find me and we can be friends! That last sentence made me sound like I was 7 years old. And also clearly illustrated my fear that my excessive use of exclamation marks makes my IQ appear to be lower than what it is. Ahh, the burdens I face.
I think that’s it. If I was going to re-title this email, I think I would call it “THE ONE WITH ALL THE LINKS AND EXCLAMATION MARKS”. The Colts won today, H.A.D. started chemo and is feeling good and the braid I put in my hair today looked a little more LC and a little less 7 year old, so I’m declaring today a win for the universe. Have a good Monday universe!
And if you are camera shy, have a broken camera or believe the only time you should see yourself on camera is if you are child in a ballet recital- and can’t submit? Tell me in comments: What makes you love harder? And if you need more time to think on it, just tell me what the best part of your weekend was. I’m on a happiness roll right now and want to hear what made yours great.
* I gold medal in writing creepy sentences today
My best part of the weekend was seeing my friend who tried to commit suicide on Thursday on gchat. (We live in different states.) Knowing that she’s alive because of my action is better than anything else that has happened in a long time.
The best part of my weekend was booking a trip to Cuba with a new friend of mine I met at work. The best part of us booking a trip was that she had to get the all clear from her doctor on Friday. She battled (and won) leukemia, but still needed to make sure that everything was a go.
She told me that when she found out she had cancer, her friends and family all started to cry. Her response to that was, “Why are you crying? I’m going to be fine!”
Best part of my weekend? Taking huge steps toward buying our first house!
Actually, that might be one of the best parts of my LIFE.
The best part of my weekend was working on a project for Love Harder with Stacie from staciehays.com. :)
My weekend was a little lame, but the best part of my week will be buying a Love Harder T-Shirt!
What inspires me to love harder? Knowing that love really does make the world go round, or at least the internet. No one knows the power of love more than me. Love has inspired me to start my own business, to let go of fears. Even when times are rough, love gives us something to celebrate.
So keep loving, Brandy. We are right here with you!
The best part of my weekend was seeing Joni Mitchell’s the Fiddle and the Drum performed by the Alberta Ballet. It was part of the Cultural Olympiad here in Vancouver, but I highly suggest that you catch it if it comes back your way!
I adore you. YOU inspire me.
My hetero life mate makes me love harder. Even more so today. :)
You know, the 30somethings are loving you, too!! ;)
Knowing you’re happy and reassured and supported makes me smile. Good stuff, girlie. Good stuff. :)
Taking a minute to slow down and think and realize and appreciate the small things inspires me to Love Harder…
I’m so happy that everyone was able to come together for this, and congrats on your awards!
The best part of my weekend was starting up my crafting again. This time, I’m trying something new so it’s a lot of fun to learn. :D
I can’t believe that we were all a part of this. It is simply amazing.
The best part of my weekend was finding out that lots of stubborn walls and “rules” can go right out the window when you meet someone worth letting in, for at least a few days.
Brandy, thanks to the Love Harder campaign, I actually had a dream about you and H.A.D. last night. Odd. But hey, I support you guys even in my dreams!
Wow, $3,000? Incredible. Truly inspiring. My family and friends make me love harder. My brother-in-law is sick right now and has been since May. It’s bringing our family together and my husband did something pretty awesome to help out my sister and him.
As for who you should get to design your blog, I saw someone else recommend http://foreverdesignstudio.com as being awesome and cheap!
What inspires me to love harder? Love does, I am in love with love. I too am a survivor and when you want to have children more than anything in the entire world and a doctor rudely tells you not to name them, because you probably will not be around to have them…you love harder. When you are sicker than you have ever been in your love and the man you love kisses you and holds you while you you 8O pounds throwing up on the bathroom floor-you love harder. When one of your best friends dies from colon cancer and leave three little children, you love harder. Ever.So.MUCH.HARDER. When you fight with everything you have got and you beat the odds, you marry the man who would never leave your side-again you love harder. When you get pregnant on the 1st try after being told you will probably never have kids–you love even harder. When you are on bed rest for almost 9 months with every complication under the sun and you baby boy is born….perfect, you love harder. You wake up one morning realizing that you may not have a lot of money, but baby, you have love. You feel like the richest person in the world…so you love harder. You wake up every single morning filled with love even when your heart is feeling broken. You make sure to tell everyone in your life, just how much you love them each and everyday because you never know when the last time you might be able to tell them that will be. But, you do not worry about that, instead you hold your pretty head up…and LOVE HARDER.
meant to say sicker than you have ever been in your life…not love…see I am addicted to LOVE. Not sure what happened to that next sentence. I have kidney stones and this med is making me loopy. I think I mean hold you while you are throwing up.
Que warm fuzzies! Seriously. I am super pumped about the success of love harder and how it’s continuing to go strong! It’s so inspiring, and I hope every donation, thought and prayer strengthens y’all during this time.
The best part of my weekend was officially moving forward with wedding planning. I was beginning to think we would never get stuff together and would remain engaged for forever, and suddenly, we have a church, a reception site, a minister and a freaking gown for me!
What was the best part of YOUR weekend?
What inspires me to love harder? Your blog posts.
The best part of my weekend was the variety. Date night IN Friday night. Out in my new city Saturday night. Brunch, garage sales, and the gym on Sunday. My little heart bursts at so much time building relationships.
What inspires me to love harder? Being loved unconditionally and without expectation. That makes me want to be better, live stronger, love harder.
So happy to hear that you’re feeling good. I now can’t get the mental image out of my head of me sitting in a bubble bath, eating cheese and watching Bridget Jones’ Diary.
I blame you.
In a good way.
Maybe.
The more I understand how much Christ loves me, the more it makes me want to be like Him and love harder.
The best part of my weekend was my husband. We didn’t fight, we snuggled, watched movies, and made love It was a fabulous weekend :)
best part of my weekend was walking nine miles and not completely collapsing afterwards.
and woo for love harder, so amazing how so much is happening.
That’s so amazing, people have been so wonderful about everything.
As for the wearing the heart on the sleeve shirt thing, it makes me think of this shirt that we’re selling at Target that’s black, and in a thin pink font on the front, it says “I wear my heart on my sleeve” (I think) and there’s a shape of a heart on the sleeve in the same color as the font. It’s cute. :)
Best part of my weekend was getting to see a close friend of mine who finally got back from her winter break of over a month and jjust caught up until we realized she had to get up for class in just a few hours.
I need to get on this video project ASAP since I only have a few days left! Eek!
Don’t worry, changing things on my blog makes me break out into hives too. =)
I wish I’d seen this sooner ’cause I would’ve been all over the video project – I couldn’t think of any better reason to break my vlog virginity!!
[...] he had Multiple Myeloma? You all responded again, through your kind words, the worlds best video and donations. And then H.A.D. got overwhelmed and I fell apart and nothing felt easy or right and it seemed so [...]