What's Cookin'

So, while this is literally cooking in my kitchen right now:

Time to replenish the supply of cooked lentils and quinoa! It's as
though there's so much in there that they'll never run out, then
BAM! Gone.

... here's what's cooking in my brain with my I Have an Idea campaign: Now that I've been running for three years and have folded it into a consistent, predictable part of my routine, I started thinking that perhaps there is something more I can do with it beyond, well, benefiting me. For all of its personal benefits, I couldn't help but think that maybe I could use my running for the good of many.

Enter: The Idea. The bottom line is I am going to work to get the miles I run sponsored by someone -- hopefully local business(es?!) -- where the business pledges an amount of money per mile I run (for a month ... for a year ...), then that money is directly donated by them to a local charitable organization. As well, I hope to get Elly's miles sponsored for the same purpose. My hope for hers is that the donation will go to the local chapter of the Humane Society as that's where we adopted her.

As much as I'm excited about this idea, it really was making my head spin last week, so I contacted my former boss, Kim Dude, who is the Director of the MU Wellness Resource Center. She has built her career on turning her passion into reality, truly moving and shaking and making a difference. I was on her committees as a student and later was paid to work with her (really?! Who gets paid to work alongside someone that awesome!?). She knows how to get things done; I knew I could use her guidance!

(I took a picture of us together, but it was totally blurry as my quick-draw photography skills failed me, so I offer this as it not only was on my calendar the day we met, but she is also a huge Mary Engelbreit fan.):

Kim's the idea queen with a heart of gold.

Our meeting was hugely productive for me! We kept having to reel ourselves back during our brainstorming from the land of excitement and possibilities and where this can go discussions, which is aweseome!, and I figured out what I need to do right now:

I need to name this idea. Kim and I had a quick exchange and thought of a great name, then I did a quickie computer search to find out not only has someone in the country has used that name, but they've also implemented a similar idea! In fact, I found this similar idea a couple of places! None are the same, but they're similar in spirit. I was momentarily defeated feeling like a second grader whose classmate looks at them and says, "Stop copying off me!" Then I realized that's just dumb ... can we have too many people trying to help other people?! Is there such a thing as too many in this case? I think not!

I need to finish the website I started building in the Fall. The more together my end is, the better the proposals should go. Following the website construction is making an information sheet I can give to prospective donors or otherwise use to draw attention to the idea and the website for information. Yes, the same website I need to finish.

I need to meet with the businesses I hope are the recipients of the money. Kim brought up some logistics I should ask for that would be useful but I never thought about. (Whew! Good move on seeking help!)

Of course, there are many details within each to-do that need to happen. I think I know what I'll be spending a lot of my thinking time on while running for a while!!

The idea, putting together a plan and working on many of these components are right up my ally, but there are some aspects to this I can tell are going to be way, way out of my comfort zone. But! Believing in it is what will inspire me to go forward and try anyway. Either that, or I'll bribe Aaron to do them with a Diet Coke. And maybe a pizza. (HA!)

Updates to follow as I actually accomplish things. Until then, I will tend to my lentils and quinoa and get ready to hit it running tomorrow! Rest Day rules! I think Elly's doing a great job embracing it, too: