44

 

I'm still here :) 

44 years ago today I was diagnosed with diabetes. 

44 years of living with a busted pancreas. 

44 years that I've been here, that I wouldn't have been if insulin had never been discovered. 

As Diaversary tradition and in no particular order - my diabetes life gratitude list.

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1. I’m still here
2. Rooibos tea - my latest obsession. Actually, I’ve been drinking it since maybe 2005, but the last few years I’ve become OBSESSED with it
3. Being an auntie to my nieces and nephews - I love them more than words can express
4. My sister Cathy
5. My family
6. The Diabetes Online Community - Finding my tribe ROCKED MY WORLD & continues to do so, each and every day
7. Sex
8. The beach
9. The ocean - there’s a reason we are three-quarters saltwater
10. I’m a kickass soup-maker with an impressive soup repertoire
11. Trump no longer presides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
12. Wide shoes that aren’t ugly
13. Theater - I can’t wait to go back!
14. Books
15. Beuno Bars - Seriously, GIVE THEM A TRY
16. Teal Green and Chartreuse 
17. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
18. Friends who are family. You know who you are and I love you
19. Dogs
20. Photography. I love taking pictures and people em to like my images. Also love learning about the history of photography and photographers
21. Peanut Butter. I LOVE IT
22. Kismet. When it happens it’s magic in action 
23. Being my mother’s daughter. Marjory was the strongest, kindest woman I ever met. Being her daughter is an honor
24. I found a hidden twenty in my wallet last week - AWESOME
25. Insulin. It keeps me alive. Unfortunately, it’s fucking expensive and people are dying because they can’t fucking afford it and that’s gotta change!
26. A bold Lipstick - it’s seriously life-changing, empowering, and energizing
27. A really gorgeous and well-made coat. Instagram #coatporn, you’ll see what I’m talking about 
28. Having a roof over my head
29. Diabetes Advocacy 
30. Purple
31. Indie coffee and tea shops
32. Diabetes technology
33. Movies
34. Pete Souza 
35. Dorothea Lange - If you don’t know about her - watch Grab A hunk Of Lightning and prepare to be inspired
36. Traveling. I miss it-can't wait to get back to it!
37. Manatees
38. Gardening
39. Having enough oat milk for my morning coffee
40. Perfectly seasoned, well-done home-fries 
41. Music
42. Reconnecting with old friends
43. Making new friends
44. Getting lost in nature - on purpose. 

Stepping Away & Taking A Few Beats To Regroup: #DOCburnout2015

To read others post about Diabetes Social Media Day, click HERE. 

Diabetes Social Media Burnout -we’ve all experienced it more than once - and that’s OK.
Today is actually Diabetes Social Media Blog Day, aka, #DOCburnout2015 - and it couldn't come at a better time! 
The DOC is amazing and at times, a very overwhelming place to call home. 
So many people, so many opinions, feelings, thoughts and issues - sometimes, at least for me - sensory overload kicks in. 

Recently, (as in the last month) I've found myself suffering from burned out re: all things diabetes related online. I would sit and stare at my computer blankly -trying to write  blog posts  - then deleting whatever fragmented thoughts that I’d been able to piece together. This happens to me every now and then and acknowledging the feeling really helps me.
Diabetes is 24X7 for most of us - we live with it, we write, tweet, Instagram, vine, youtube, periscope and spend an inordinate amount of time, both online and off, discussing diabetes - and there are times when it all becomes too much and my/our energy gets zapped and I feel trapped by the interwebz - see below.

Too much time online can make me feel trapped and more than a little bonkers.
Ironically, diabetes has been known to make me feel the same exact, every now and then.
FYI:I took this photo at the Franklin Insititute's Lego Exhibit - it was awesome!

And I've found that whenever the Diabetes Social Media burnout feeling becomes overwhelming, I need to step back from my life online for a few days/weeks and regroup, reassess, and recharge my life offline - and that taking a step back is more than OK - It's necessary. 
So yes, the month of August has been sparsely populated on diabetesaliciousness. 
I’ve participated in #dsma (because #dsma always makes me feel better,) and on Facebook discussions - but I've spent far more time focusing on things offline.
Giving myself permission few a weeks at the end of the summer (or anytime you feel completely burned out via diabetes and or diabetes social media,) is wonderful thing. 
 Giving myself permission to walk away from the blog and not worry about the content - FTR, I’d rather have quality content instead of quantity, is just want this chick with a busted pancreas needed. 
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed and burned out by Diabetes Social Media - that’s OK, you’re not alone. Take a step back, take some time to breathe and enjoy your surroundings. 

Take a few beats to regroup and come to the world of Diabetes Social Media with your passion reignited your batteries recharged. 

The DOC will always be here for us - no matter how long or short our break from Diabetes Social Media is - And that my friends is a beautiful thing~

Thanks to Diabetes Daily for creating this day and encouraging all of us to share our feelings on #DOCburnout2015!

Looks like I'm not the only one who took a few steps back and enjoyed the surroundings~