This story involves thoughts, perceptions, ideas; this is not an academic offering - "I hope they may hit the mark on some level (and as ever, ignore them if they don’t)".

Roll the Dice. By Charles Bukowski.

“if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
otherwise, don’t even start.

if you’re going to try, go all the
way. this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.

go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or
4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation.
isolation is the gift,
all the others are a test of your
endurance, of
how much you really want to
do it.
and you’ll do it
despite rejection and the
worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.

if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
that.
you will be alone with the
gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.

do it, do it, do it.
do it.

all the way
all the way.
you will ride life straight to
perfect laughter,
it’s the only good fight
there is.”

My name is Kelly Davies, I’m a human, ‘in a continuous process of  flux and change’. I'm a daughter, sister, friend. I meditate regularly and am drawn to Buddhist teachings. I'm a Student Mental Health Nurse, studying at Oxford Brookes, practicing within Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. I also enjoy running (at times!) and am soon completing a half marathon challenge.

Money raised in support of this challenge will go directly to Oxford Health's Complex Needs Service - a specialist community service, providing group therapy for people meeting diagnostic criteria for personality disorder. A service for people having difficulty understanding themselves and understanding others, relating to themselves and to others; a human issue, but for some these difficulties can become stuck in a chaotic cycle... the Complex Needs Service provides scaffolding to enable helpful healthy changes to these cycles.

Steve Pearce joined Oxford Health in January 2002. He joined the Trust to develop a service for people with Personality Disorder, from the beginning Steve was 'at the helm' of the Complex Needs Service. In March, Steve died - this is my offering to help keep his work alive; to ensure (what I read as) his hope and belief in the service he developed is shared. 

My half marathon time will be measured. The money raised for Oxford Health's Complex Needs Service will be measured. In sharing Steve's energy, my hope and belief is that, the benefit this will bring is without measure. 

Steve** provided evidence from many angles - together, up until race day, let's enjoy his findings and offerings?!

** Steve worked with others, apologies that I do not note these others here - this is about Steve and 'being more Pearce'.

#bemorepearce