Me - I'm still here & I love this picture. My hairdressing took it after a cut and color. I don't care that my mascara is running because this photo made me happy! |
Today is my 47th Diaversary - And I'm still here.
47 years of injections; blood sugars rollercoasters, carb counting, always having low treats on my person.
47 years of wondering; living, laughing, dealing, (sometimes not,) continually learning; doing, becoming.
Recognizing that diabetes is a part of me - It's a part of my life - the good, the bad - the diabetesaliciousness of it all~
Acknowledging that diabetes burnout is not a weakness - it's real; it can be debilitating.
Diabetes can make you sad and frustrated and requires us to get back up - even when we don't want to. And while living with a chronic illness can make us resilient - resilience can be fucking exhausting.
Reaching out for help can be hard - but we are not alone and we are worth it!
I'm thinking a lot about that little girl 47 years ago - how she missed Halloween - how her parents kept on their game faces when their hearts must have been breaking - but they never let her see it. How she tried to make them laugh at the hospital, but would cry herself to sleep that night because she was scared and sad.
I'm thinking about both my sisters who passed from t1d complications and t1 medical negligence. I wish things had turned out differently for them... for us.
I think about how I am the girl who lived and the woman who continues to become.
I'm grateful for my support system. My family, my friends - my amazing diabetes family - what all you have done and continue to do for me - I would be so incredibly lost without you!
Every year I create a Gratitude List for my Diaversary - with the number correlating with the number of years I've lived the D life.
Cheers to number 47 - in no particular order, here's my list of some of the many things in life I continue to find joy in and be grateful for.
- My nieces and nephews - THEY ARE MAGNIFICENT
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
- Nailing the bolus for the ginormous gelato I had last Saturday night
- The magical properties of red lipstick
- Hoka Bondi's - If you know, you know. If you don't, give them a try
- Dogs. Dogs are the best
- Music. I'd be lost without music. Currently on rotation: Black Violin, Duran Duran, Poe, The Wonder Woman Sound Track, Anything Taylor's version
- Speaking of Duran Duran, INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL for my friend, G gifting me 8th row tickets to see Duran Duran last Saturday night - THEY WERE AMAZING
- Chai Tea
- Tea in general
- Strong coffee with oatmilk & sugar
- Filling up my car with Regular gas yesterday that cost $2.82 a gallon
- Cathy & Clark
- My friends who are family
- A Dino's sub
- Red and white wine
- Smart insulins
- Grabbing my camera and shooting
- Walks
- Swimming in the ocean
- The ocean
- Going to the movies
- Dinner with friends
- Dinner with my family
- Nailing a carb count
- Coming pretty damn close to nailing a carb count
- CGM & insulin pump technology
- Making/eating soup
- The beach
- Shells
- Singing - I like to sing
- Performing
- Writing - I've had writer's block for a while - It finally behind me
- Naps
- Traveling - I love to travel
- Jewelry in all dimensions
- Art
- Photography
- Cooking
- Not having to do dishes
- Diabetes Meet-ups - They are magic!
- The men who discovered insulin and saved millions of lives - including my own!
- My friends kids
- Sex
- A night out
- Massages
- YOU. Everyone in the Diabetes Community - online and off. Without your love, support, lessons, laughter - I don't know where I'd be! THANK YOU for everything. I love you and I am so fucking grateful to have found you!
3 comments:
Happy diaversary, K2!! <3
Congratulations Kelly on your resilience, persistence, and positive attitude dealing with such a challenging disease and the health situations you face daily!
Love! Colleen S
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