Let’s look again at the DOC. Or specifically, about bloggers. I’ve seen a few posts about bloggers, and blogging, in the past couple of weeks. I’ve also seen more than a few comments related to blogging and bloggers.
I’ve been trying to resist writing about bloggers and blogging for a while. Mostly because I’ve only been blogging here for about 4 months myself. Not enough experience to really see things clearly. So instead, let me share a few links, and hopefully add a few thoughts of my own.
At My Busted Pancreas, I’m reminded that I too live this T1D life on my own for the most part. The only other type 1 that I know personally lives about 500 miles away, and she’s one of The Great Spousal Unit’s friends anyway. If it weren’t for what I read from the DOC, I’d still feel like I’m alone and no one gets it. And yes, I really mean that.
Kim at KD(and it’s not kraft dinner!) wrote about her advocacy at the grocery store, and how, a year ago, she was the shy one who didn’t want to bring her diabetes out in the open. Likewise, Karen at Bitter-Sweet talks about how she’s evolved from the shy person in high school to an unlikely advocate. I don’t think these things happen without the support and understanding of all of us in this community, do they?
Scott Strange at Strangely Diabetic talks about a lot of things when he describes his blogging and advocacy, including Survivor’s Guilt. Or Proactive Survivorship. Anyway, his story is inspiring, and he lays it out on the line about why he does what he does. It’s a good read.
What if you’re writing all the time, and you start to feel like nobody notices? There are it seems, a few bloggers that everyone reads, everyone sends comments to, everyone tweets. You wonder if you’re really doing something worthwhile. Kate at Kate’s Sweet Success has a great post that gets to the heart of the matter: “…the more voices we hear, the better off we will all be. I don’t have to be a rock star in the DOC in order to make an important contribution. What I have to do is be honest and put my ideas out there in the hopes that someone else will benefit.” Exactly. Let’s remember why we got into this game, okay? I don’t think it was to get the most hits on a particular day. If that is why you’re blogging about your diabetes, well… maybe you should rethink your mission statement. Just saying.
Finally, if you are wondering if you really are making a difference, take this advice from Sara at Moments of Wonderful (and then read all of the great Best of the ‘Betes Blogs posts): “Never doubt whether anyone cares what you have to say. I guarantee that there is someone out there who is waiting for your words. This community cannot exist without each and everyone one of us.”
I can’t put it better than these people have. In a year or two, the DOC might be quite different from what it looks like now, for reasons we may not be aware of yet. For now, I am so happy to share my voice, and I hope to help give someone that one word of encouragement, or note of understanding, or crazy photo on that one day when they need it most. If you know what I mean.
D Pluribus Unum… out of many, one.
Enjoy the weekend!
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