38. Wow… that was a little scary!

I started my opening speech at a leadership camp this weekend I heard someone say “it’s her.. it’s DearMamaSal”. I was stunned. I had not expected anyone to recognize me from YouTube after such a short space of time!

It also was a little scary because everyone in the room had my personal telephone number – in the directory – I will have to revisit that issue if I continue to speak to young people. I am sure there is a balance between being a public figure and protecting my privacy. I think that from now I will no longer put my telephone number into directories. Sure the DearMamaSal@gmail.com address can be published but not the telephone number – maybe I will get people to write and then I can choose who will get to contact me by phone. Either that or I will need a different phone number.

I am still waiting to find out how much Google’s counter erroneously added to our YouTube views. It, unfortunately, directly coincided with the weekend I spent with Benji and Judy and that may also make them think that the figures were not real. Whatever the reality, it has been fun watching these super numbers over the past 10 days.

As you may know, I stopped smoking last Saturday. It is not without it’s wonders. Somewhere in the day I get a strong need to smoke, even with the patch, and at other moments I am amazed that I do not miss them at all. I work hard each day to keep control of my urges and to keep remembering that one more day is all I need until tomorrow, when I will need yet another “one more day”. I have noticed that I used to smoke to think! The reason I know that is because each time a question drops into one of the in-boxes, my first reaction is to turn and grab a ciggie. – so I can think of a suitable reply. I will have to find another “distraction”.

I am still very tired and will go to bed early and not worry about the mess everywhere. Looking after me is the #1 priority for a couple of days.