I was a lot more active in my youth.

Not only did I bike everywhere, because I couldn’t drive, but I walked 2 miles (each way) to school, and I took dance classes several times a week. Trust me when I say that dance gear has gotten a lot better looking in the past 15 years! Back in my day, you were hot in a one piece cat suit and some leg warmers. Ick! It was either that or tights (usually white) and a leotard (usually black). We had to travel to a specialty store to get footless or stirrup tights! You kids today have it easy, with the internet - you can go online to a store like Just For Kix and get dance tights, unitards, warm up gear, tutus, and costumes too! The site offers footless tights, body stockings, specialty stockings (excellent for recitals and costumes), and even special sizes for children and toddlers.

Walking in the 3-Day last year taught me a lot about goals and commitment. On that first day, when I was frozen and wrapped in a mylar blanket, putting one foot in front of another, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. At the end of that first day, I knew I had done the right thing, and I knew I’d be doing it again. I have a lot of admiration for someone who has a goal, and works for that goal. That’s why the story of Belisi - how it started appeals to me.

He’s a guy who had a wife and a baby, nothing in savings, but he had an idea for a business. He took what he learned from bartending for the rich and famous in Palm Beach, and turned it into a way to support his family. Now, Peter Belisi is a successful business owner, selling high end fashion accessories to the people he once waited on. He didn’t forget his roots though - he gives a portion of EVERY purchase to a good cause through his Luxury With Meaning project. I admire that too. It’s nice to know that there are businesses like this with heart, that do care about giving back to the community and charities, and they aren’t just in it for the money.