Kendra's Favorite Things: 10.11

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for welcoming me into this wonderful family and making me feel at home for the last 3 ½ years. It’s been a great pleasure for me to be a part of this dynamic team, and I’ve taken a lot of pride in what we’ve accomplished here together. As I do a bit of reflecting on my time spent here, it’s clear to me that the most important thing I am walking away with are the relationships I’ve developed with all of you.

While I’ve been here you have offered support and advice to me in some way or another, many of you have taught me invaluable life lessons, and some of you have become very dear friends to me. You’ve taught me things that have affected my professional and personal life, and you’ve let me be exactly who I am along the way, and for that I thank you.

Today I am filled with bittersweet emotions of knowing I’ll no longer be a part of this team, but I am grateful to each of you for everything you’ve helped me with while I was.

If you ever need to get a hold of me please see my personal contact information below, I’d love to hear from any of you and I promise I won’t be a complete stranger. I’ll be staying here locally in San Diego and I’ll be sure to pop in from time to time. And for those of you wondering who will handle the Karaoke at this year’s Children’s Holiday Party… I’m proud to announce that I’ll still be volunteering at that event!! Just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean I’m about to pass up an opportunity to sing and dance with the kiddos!

Thank you ALL again for everything… it’s been a wonderful experience to work with and learn from each of you.

Sincerely,

Kendra

“I always wanted a happy ending... Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity.” -Gilda Radner

Overdue updates!

Where do I begin?!? Let's section this bad-boy off into neatly compartmentalized categories...

Life in General: I honestly couldn't be feeling better. Been off the "crazy pills" for about 2.5 months now, and I am feeling more in control, stable, and overall HAPPY than I ever have before! It's been a great feeling and I love the progress I am continuing to see in myself. (What's that sound?!? That's me tooting my own horn!!)

Work: Are you sitting down? I, Kendra Lee Dwyer, got a new job!!!!!! It's a bittersweet feeling to be leaving the Convention Center but I have decided to move on and venture into the world of Medical Supply sales. I am incredibly excited for this amazing new opportunity and I'm looking forward to the changes that it will bring to my life. I know it's going to be a LOT of hard work, long days etc., but I'm up for the challenge and ready to become successful in this new industry!

Fitness: It's time to get my lazy but back on the road. After a long (and much needed) hiatus, I'm ready to get back to my first fitness love, RUNNING! I'm still going to get to the yoga studio 1-2 times per week, but running has always kept me in the best shape, so it's time for me to get back to it, and I'm ready! I went for my first run in longer than I'm willing to admit yesterday and I felt great. Okay, that's a complete lie, I didn't feel great... I was out of breath and discouraged by how hard it was for me to run even 2.4 miles, BUT I'm not going to let that get me down. I'm just going to start from scratch and take my time to build back up to being a "runner." I don't think any marathons are on my horizon again, but I might get the itch to do a half soon.... stay tuned!

Birthday Love: Last week was my 28th birthday and I've never felt so showered with love. From lavish lunches to a happy hour with many of the people I love (including a surprise visit from KIKI), to a night out on the town with a bunch of my friends... I just felt so incredibly blessed all week long. I have an overwhelming feeling that 28 is going to be my best year yet!

This little girl is SOOO cute....

I think Kiki and I should do a re-make of this video... The pink tutus & tiaras are a MUST!

Need your help!!

As you know, last November I participated in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for a Cure walk, and raised over $2,300 dollars to help fund research studies to find a cure for Breast Cancer. I walked 60 miles (about 45 of them in the pouring rain) over the course of 3 days. I met people who'd fought Breast Cancer and won, I met peopled who'd lost their loved ones to it, and I met people who were currently battling through this awful disease at the time.

One of the most important things I took away from participating in this walk is that raising $2,300 and walking 60 miles in a weekend is NOTHING compared to the amount of physical and emotional pain that goes along with a Breast Cancer diagnosis (and the diagnosis is just the beginning)!

I've decided that once wasn't enough so this year I'll be walking another 60 miles November 19th-21st and I need your help, and I am asking you to participate with what you can give in order to find a cure for this deadly disease.

There are several ways to donate:

Donate using a credit card online by visiting: www.the3day.org/goto/kendraleedwyer

Donate by filling out a donation form and sending a check to:

Susan G. Komen

3-Day for the Cure

PO BOX 660843

Dallas, TX 75266-0843

Imagine a world with no breast cancer. Imagine a mother not having to fight for her life so she can enjoy it with her children. Imagine a world where you and I don't have to wonder if we'll be the next diagnosis. Imagine a cure.

Thank you,

Kendra Lee Dwyer

"Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much." -Helen Keller

Home is whenever I'm in Tucson...

When I got home, my Mom had decorated my room with 28 pink balloons... all with different characteristics of me... Gotta love Mom for seeing the best in us!