Tag Archives: support

Instant pick-me-ups. Twice.

December 13, 2013 – 8:48 am

I’m going to be honest… I had a bad day yesterday. Well, not the whole day. But part of it really sucked. I don’t want to go into why, because there’s a very selfish reason for it and it’s not worth talking about.

But I was feeling bad, and I checked on this site for the first time in almost 24 hours, and I saw the nicest comment… the kind that really makes you feel good no matter what else is happening in your life. I mean, my attitude changed almost immediately.

Later, I talked to my older sister on the phone. Did I mention that I’m one of six children? We’re just like the Bradys– three boys, three girls, without the craziness and rehab and made-for-TV movies. I’m number 3 in the line. Anyway, my siblings and I don’t talk all the time, but that’s not because we don’t like each other. We’re all just too busy, or we forget to call, etc.

So my sister wanted to get my e-mail to send me some information I was looking for. I gave her my regular home e-mail address, but I told her that if she ever lost it, she could always reach me at the blog e-mail address. Then she said this:

“Yeah, the blog. Love the blog. And I think what you’re doing with the d-athletes and the medals is great”.

She also mentioned that she has a friend at work with diabetes, and she told this person about the blog, and they both read it now. No one has ever relayed a story like that to me before. It was another instant pick-me-up that I really needed.

As a result, I’ve almost forgotten about my disappointment from yesterday. Almost. Instead, I’ve remembered how important it is to tell my story, and help where I can, and make it all about support and encouragement and what we can do, and not about me and how crummy my day was. I hope you can remember that too during the holidays, and I hope you can remind me if I don’t remember.

Enjoy your weekend. And trust me… your voice, your participation is important. Someone needs to hear what you have to say. And even though I’m terrified of creating some stupid cycle of dependency, I have to admit that sometimes, I need to hear what you have to say too.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Support | Also tagged | Comments (1)

Happy December.

December 4, 2013 – 7:42 am

Wow, I can’t believe it… it’s been almost a week since I published anything. Don’t read anything into that other than the fact that work has been occupying nearly all of my time, and I just haven’t had any extra moments to write.

But while I have a moment, let me just ask you to remember what’s really great about the holiday season that’s just begun.

What’s really fantastic about this time of year is the giving. And the giving takes all forms. From blog giveaways here and here, to giving and preserving life by donating to Insulin for Life, which has a big push right now to raise funds to aid typhoon victims in the Philippines.

There’s also a DiaTribe petition (go there—read & sign NOW), to urge the ridiculous people in Oregon’s Health Evidence Review Commission (this is a thing?) to stop the idea of restricting test strips for Type 2s to one, or even zero, per week to the patients enrolled in the Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan. Go there. Read it. Sign it. Now.

And strangely enough (or it makes perfect sense, depending on your point of view), right about now is also when a lot of people feel a little more down. Feeling a little less celebratory, and a little more like hunkering down through the holidays. For those people, I hope the rest of us can bring ourselves to reach out this December. Not to say, “Hey, you should be part of this great thing happening!”, as much as to say, “Hey, I feel for you, and I was there once, and I support you, no matter what… No Conditions”.

It is not a reach at all to say that sometimes, the best giving is when we give of ourselves. I know that from experience, and I know that from experience on both sides of that table. Empathy means a whole lot in our world. And giving empathy feels really great too.

Hope you’re enjoying your week… I’ll try to catch up to you with more very soon.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Advocacy, Support | Also tagged , | Comments (2)

Thinking. About You.

July 30, 2012 – 7:33 am

I don’t know why, but I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my fellow PWDs. Particularly about those who go through tough times.

Sometimes our diabetes is the issue. Sometimes our diabetes is collateral damage, caught in the crossfire.

We all have moments that challenge us. Moments when we are insulted. Moments when we are marginalized. Moments when things are beyond difficult. Moments when we just want to give up. Even if just for a moment.

I hope you know that you’re not alone in those moments. In those moments especially. You already know that there are hundreds of resources… hundreds of people here online who believe in you and are ready to lend an ear. Ready to lend a shoulder. Able to validate what you’re going through. When it seems like no one believes in you, the Diabetes Online Community stands with you. On your side.

I’ve been thinking about that lately. And thinking about you lately, whoever you are. I don’t know why. But if you ever need anything, feel free to leave a comment or use the e-mail link in the upper left part of this page. Or just click on one of the links in my blogroll to the left. Those links will connect you with many more people who know a lot more than I do. No, you are not alone. Not today. Not ever.

I believe in you. In your most difficult moments. And I’ll be there to celebrate you. In your greatest triumphs.
 
 
 

By StephenS | Posted in Additional Inspiration, Support | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)

DSMA Blog Carnival. Ideal Diabetes Support Group?

April 19, 2012 – 10:22 am

This blog is so new I probably shouldn’t be doing this, but I’ll give it a try anyway. The April DSMA Blog Carnival topic is:

Describe your ideal diabetes “support group”? What would you discuss?

Both of these questions are hopefully answered below.

My ideal support group… well, first of all, it would exist (more on that later). Assuming it does exist, I would want my ideal support group to have 4 qualities:

1. Inclusion. No haters in this group. I know that people don’t always look at the world in the same way, but support means accepting someone on their terms, not mine. Same for conversation. Everyone needs to feel free to be themselves.

2. A sense of humor. Diabetes is a daily struggle for all of us. Not taking ourselves too seriously allows us to focus on what is really important (and who is really important), when it really matters.

3. Flexibility. Let’s face it: things change, people change, diabetes changes all of us. Having the same agenda or focus at every get-together is the kind of rigidity that turns me off. Being flexible means keeping things new and fresh rather than old and stale. Flexibility means acceptance to change, and even embracing change that helps a group’s evolution toward a more perfect union.

4. Goals. Read: Advocacy. The primary goal of any support group should be support of group members, right? If that’s your only goal, okay. But you’re not part of my ideal support group anymore. Because there are always people who need more support than ourselves (well, almost always). My ideal group sets goals that will help make the world a better place for PWDs. That’s not reaching too far, is it? Okay, goals need to be attainable. But I would really like my group’s support to be larger than just the group.

That’s my ideal support group, and at least a basis for discussion. But I have to admit that I’m just guessing here. I’ve never attended a support group meeting since my diagnosis. In fact, in 21 years with diabetes, I think I’ve met maybe 15 other diabetics in a a live setting. And about 10 of those were at a local event for adults with type 1 a couple of months ago. I only found out about that because I had volunteered with the local JDRF chapter the week before.

To be honest, I share much of the blame. I haven’t been a particularly social creature in the past (I’m getting better, I think). Also, I was diagnosed and spent the first few years with diabetes in one city, then moved to another city where I knew virtually no one. I haven’t signed up for a lot of JDRF or ADA walks or rides. And, for various reasons, I’ve pretty much shared my D-story with people on a need-to-know basis.

I haven’t attended events, lectures, presentations, or conferences, mostly because, until recently, I didn’t even know these things existed. As it is, these things rarely happen in my part of world anyway. Wait a minute… Hey! I think I have our first discussion topic! Our first goal! Who’s with me? Let’s goooooo!!!!!

Author’s note: Looking for my first support group meeting… more to come.

This post is my April entry in the DSMA Blog Carnival. If you’d like to participate too, you can get all of the information at http://diabetessocmed.com/2012/april-dsma-blog-carnival-2/

By StephenS | Posted in DSMA Blog Carnival | Also tagged , , , | Comments (6)