I was reading a book last night (“The Third Angel” by Alice Hoffman) and one sentence keeps echoing through my head, trying to tell me something.

“Being in the hospital together was like being on the front line; you don’t need to be privy to everything about someone to know them.”

Now I’ve never been on the front line (unless you count a newsroom), but I have been in the hospital, both as patient and visitor, and I think that’s true. What’s more, I believe those of you who have dealt with catastrophic illnesses like breast cancer will probably agree.

When you experience something major with other people, it creates a bond. You might not “know” the people who shared the experience with you, but you know them. You know them in a unique and fairly intimate way.

I have not yet experienced The 3-Day, but I suspect the same thing applies. (And I’m not talking about sharing tents.)

I got a tiny glimpse of what’s to come at the Arizona Training Kickoff on Sunday, and it floored me. I had already come to think of The 3-Day community almost as a second family thanks to the overwhelming support I’ve received from my new online friends in the weeks since I signed up for this adventure. Talk about being welcomed with open arms!

At the event on Sunday, I actually met some of those friends face to face, but it wasn’t like we were meeting for the first time. We already knew each other.

Earlier this month, Online Ambassador Tracy posted a list — “You Know You’re a 3-Day Walker When…”
It’s an awesome list, but I especially like No. 19. “When you see other 3-Dayers, your secret sisterhood handshake is a hug.”

Now I am not necessarily a big hugger, but I sure turned into one at the Kickoff. You can’t NOT do the secret sisterhood handshake, right? These were people I wanted to hug. Needed to hug.

There’s more to the 3-Day than walking and fundraising. We’re all building amazing, incredible relationships, even if we never meet in person. I’ve come to rely on my 3-Day friends more than I ever thought I would. In some ways, I rely on them  more than people I’ve known for years. (No, I’m not counting the nabobs here.) Now that’s not a slam on my old friends, most of whom are beyond awesome. It’s a testament to my new ones, many of whom I could pass on the street and never know it.

I know if I have a question or concern — be it swelly hands, tingly legs, sock suggestions, shoe advice, fundraising tips, piggy-bank decorating ideas, unsupportive friends, and the list goes on — I can throw whatever it is out there get all kinds of responses in just a few minutes. And they keep coming. The 3-Day community is this magical bottomless well of support and encouragement. I keep using words like “amazing” and “incredible” over and over. But they work.

We’re all bonded not only by a common goal, but also by our passion, commitment and determination to reach that goal — a world without breast cancer.

I always knew there was a bigger picture here, but I don’t think I realized just how big. It’s ginormous. (Yeah, OK, I’m not particularly fond of that word either as it’s been applied to my posterior a few times too many. But you have to admit it kind of fits. The bigger picture. Not my butt.)

When you have thousands of people all over the country world working toward a single goal, how can you fail? I’m not allowed to say “can’t,” so I’ll say failure is not option. Won’t happen. With all those feet walking in the same direction, success really is the only outcome. It might not be the victory you anticipated or wanted, but it’s success nonetheless.

All of those little stepping-stone victories — those fundraising goals met or shattered, those miles logged — add up. And one day, we will arrive at our goal. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — everything is possible.

And if I ever forget that, I know dozens of people who will step up to remind me. Because they know me. And I know them.