Mar 19, 2012

How to change your life forever: change what you think you are capable of.

I'd like to say that ALL OF YOU ARE INCREDIBLE.

Your messages of support for my crazy dream of flying to space have been overwhelming.

So many have told me that they believe in me, that they are telling everyone they know to vote and that they themselves are "voting the crap out of my page." (Many thanks to ABFTS for making me laugh really hard at that!)

But still others have written to thank me. Several people have told me how they or someone close to them are going through their own struggles with depression, anxiety, or both. They say my writing has helped, touched and inspired them.

I'm sorry for those of you who are still struggling. :( My heart is with you, and I only wish I could do something more to help. If I could, I would give you all an enormous hug.

And I am incredibly grateful. Because even if the ONLY thing I accomplished by entering this contest was to help someone, somewhere, just a little, it was totally worth it.

Knowing that I've helped people gives me an absolutely wonderful feeling inside. (I imagine it's similar to the feeling of visiting space. Probably even better!) =']

So where am I at? At time of writing my entry has received almost 1000 votes. This is way more than I anticipated and I am extremely touched. Out of over a THOUSAND entries, I am in the top sixty. This is incredible!

Is it enough to win by next Monday? I'll be honest: probably not. Am I going to give up? HECK NO.

So I'm setting a goal. A realistic goal, I think, but one that will require me to keep putting everything I have into this. That was my plan - all or nothing. I would love to make it into the top 20.

At time of writing, 5000 votes would put me there... but other people will be getting more votes too. Of course, since everyone can vote ten times a day, it's more like "500 votes." Right? =P

If you have a blog and want to support the cause, would you consider putting this button on your site? (Just for a week?) The code is all right here in the box; simply copy-paste it into an html widget. (The bottom image links to the voting page, and the top image links to the post where I explain it all.)

Help send a blogger to space!
Click here to vote 10x daily!

(If you do, THANK YOU FOREVER in advance! You are WONDERFUL!)

Win or lose, just entering this contest has already been the best decision I've made in a while. I already find myself looking at new challenges and opportunities differently. I have plans in the next month to pursue two new (slightly more realistic =P) goals despite how much they scare me. If I was capable of overcoming my doubts and entering this contest, well... how much more am I capable of?

A whole CRAPLOAD, that's what!

Thank you times a million to everyone who has supported me in this and who continues to support me. I'll keep bugging you for one more week. Just seven days! I'll post something of my more usual fare later this week. =)

Lots of love,
Ellen

33 comments:

  1. So happy that you've made it up into the top 60 - I've been wondering how we were doing! Your button is up and running on my blog - and I'll of course continue to vote until the end. Congrats on getting this far!

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    Replies
    1. You've pretty much been my #1 blogosphere supporter in this. =) Thank you so much!

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  2. I shared this on Google+. And will vote some more! Good luck.

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  3. GO YOU!
    That is SO FREAKING COOL. I voted, like, a gazillion times

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awwww, yeah! And now I'm wishing gazillion was a real number and also a possible number of times to vote in said contest... =P

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  4. That's awesome! I hope you can make it in the top 1!

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    Replies
    1. Ahahahaha, so do I! Never lose all hope, right? =) Thanks Tracie.

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  5. YAY! THAT'S FANTASTIC!
    I voted 10 times today. I wish I could vote more today, but I cannot. :( I HOPE YOU GET TO GO TO SPACE AND IF YOU DO I WOULD BE SOOO FREAKING HAPPY FOR YOU! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sana!

      Someday! Even without the contest, it'll still be on my wishful bucket list, after all. =)

      Delete
  6. I entered my husband, but I cannot figure out what they mean by "metro" country. So I am not sure if he will be able to enter. Please vote for him won't affect your chances as he is in South Africa. http://metroinspace.com/ca/view/csze#.T2g7fXpvgT0.facebook

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unfortunately "Metro Country" means a country where Metro news is published. Namely, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Mexico, The Netherlands, Peru, Russia, Sweden or the US.

      I did try to vote for him, but since he's been entered in the Canadian division I had already used my 10 votes for the day. =S I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. =(

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  7. Voted and put your button up, good luck!

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  8. :D This is really cool!
    I'll definitely be voting.

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  9. It is up on my blog. Best of luck :)

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  10. Glad we could make you laugh, and just to let you know, I'm still voting the crap out of your page!

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  11. I just voted for you...wow...wouldn't that be soo cool!!
    good luck!!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! It really would be amazing to go.

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  12. Hi Ellen, any news on your progress?

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    Replies
    1. I came out in the end with almost 3.5 thousand votes! It was awesome! :D

      Right now is my last week of classes with finals and such, so I'm pretty much MIA at the moment. I'll be back soon! =)

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  13. Where are you Ellen? Have you gone to the moon? Love to you, Julie XXOO

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  14. Hello there, hope you're doing ok - it's been a long time since you've posted anything!

    I have a special request if you're interested. I've made a birthday blog for a friend of mine - and I'm hoping everyone will stop by for a visit and help make it a success. Here's the link if it's something you feel like doing

    http://bestexoticmarigoldhotel.blogspot.in/

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I just finished exams last week and I'm working on an entry right now!

      And sure, I'll pop by that blog for your friend. :)

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    2. It will be nice to have a post from you and it must be wonderful to be done with exams!

      I'm off to the beach for ten days - but will either check in from an Internet cafe, or if that doesn't work out, I'll check when I get home.

      Thanks so much for stopping by my movie blog! I really appreciate it :)

      Delete
    3. SOOOO I'm just dropping by to confirm that no, I am not dead, and yes, I am lazy, but wait! There will be a new blog post tomorrow. Cheers everyone!

      Delete

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