Please donate to the refugee cause #rationchallenge #actforpeace #refugeerations #firstworldproblems

I was part of a team called Hungry for Peace, aiming to live on the official rations for a week here in Australia. We set our original fundraising target at $2,500, and were hoping to have 5 of us raising $500 each…

Hmmm. Turned into 2 of us aiming at $1,250 each.

That’s OK, I can rise to that. My fellow campaigner is a very experienced fundraiser, having done the Oxfam Trail campaign twice, and regularly participating in various community drives, while I would say I’m usually just an enthusiastic-friend-being-supportive-of her-ongoing-great-ideas-like that-damn-hike-in-Tasmania-remember?

This time, I had to put my money where my mouth was. Or rather, other people’s money where my mouth wanted to be.

And DRUM ROLL…………… our team has raised $3,829.00 so far! Fundraising closes June 30, so don’t hold back now if you forgot 😉  

WOOHOOOOOOOO!

Such a fab feeling. It costs approx $64 to feed a refugee for 3 months on these rations, so that’s 54 displaced human beings no longer being hungry; totally worth my pitiful ‘rice brain’ whinges.

My favourite lunch #organicfood #farmersmarkets #wellbeing #grateful @boneAndsilver

On my first day back to real food, I was literally high on sweet relief: the feeling of freedom from restriction, and unfettered access to green vegetables. The second day of normal eating, I was almost jumping out of my skin with delight, and tore through my To-Do List, crossing off 10 longterm items in just a few hours.

I’ve run on the beach, thoroughly cleaned the house, gone to 2 dance classes, and beamed at everyone I’ve passed in the street.

But the sad truth is, if I really was a refugee, I don’t think I’d make it. A week on rations showed me how fragile my stamina can be (on Day 3 of the Challenge I was a mess, with a headache, weak muscles, and feeling so vulnerable/angry/hopeless); I felt like I lost a layer of resilience, a layer of determination, and a layer of positivity. Plus a kilo of weight I really don’t need to.

The emotional rollercoaster was harder than I expected, and I think that’s the biggest lesson for me. I’ve always said that food and nutrition are the essential building blocks or fuel for a good life, of course, and now I really really REALLY know it.

Thank you once again to the few but precious readers who donated to the cause HERE, and you’ve got till June 30 if you feel the urge… and all the supportive comments during my hungry week were greatly appreciated too, as summed up by ‘Q’ on her donation message:

“What a beautiful thing you are doing–and how terrible that it needs doing.”

A special thanks to the big donation by Margaret C- I don’t know who you are or where you came from, but you were very generous, thank you ❤ .

So now, ‘normal bone&silver programming’ will resume: updates on the dating adventures (SO much damn fun); ’18’s’ birthday and perfect gift; various fun art activities, plus general musings on Life over 50, including a guest interview over at Unleashing the Cougar to be reblogged here soon 🙂

In gratitude for the privilege of simply returning to ‘normal programming’, love G xO