Lungleavin Day

I learned recently of a wonderful activist with a generous idea: Lungleavin Day. It's a tongue-twister with an inspiring message. Heather Von St. James has taken her experience with Mesothelioma and even her surgery to remove a lung into something we can all relate to. She calls together friends and family every year on the anniversary of her surgery to celebrate: here is her description:

One of many things that came out of my battle with cancer is a holiday I created called Lungleavin Day. This is the anniversary of my surgery (Feb 2nd) in which my entire left lung was removed. Lungleavin Day is a celebration of life and facing your fears. Each year we celebrate with nearly 100 loved ones. The idea of this day is for everyone to fill a blank plate with their fears and smash it into a bonfire at my Lungleavin day party, symbolizing people throwing their fears to the fire. I also use Lungleavin day as a fundraiser for mesothelioma research.

I so often use plates in my analogies and discussions of eating disorders, for obvious but indisputably tired reasons. I love this new image of plates, of "double-edged" gratitude, and of how people face the difficult passages of life.

Go check out Heather's blog and get inspired!