Sunday, May 8, 2011

D-Blog Week: Admiring Our Differences


Though each of us has a different diabetes type, we all share many of the same diabetes gifts.


Each of us, regardless of our diabetes type, has found our hearts, our courage, our home, and our brains in the Magical Land of the DOC ~

The first assignment of the Second Annual D Blog Week is to write about a different type of perspectives among the ginormous number of diabetes blogs/bloggers out there. Blog authors run the gambit from Former children with diabetes who blog as adults with diabetes, newly diagnosed adult type 1's , LADA/ Type 1.5's, type 2s, parents of children with diabetes, spouses, you name the type of diabetes and I guarantee there's many a blog about it.

For some reason when I read about this particular assignment topic, I kept thinking about the imagery & lessons taught in the movie, The Wizard of Oz - For many reasons.

All of us have moments when we long for a better world, a world where our diabetes "troubles melt like lemon drops." And yes, I'm aware of the lemon drop reference is slightly ironical.

All of us have "the diabetes monkey on our backs," and while our diabetes monkey doesn't have wings or interesting outfits, they still drive us crazy!

In Diabetes Land, "Lions and tigers and bears," sometimes are represented by: http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/2008/07/blood-sugars-insulin-pumps-needles-oh.html

Each type of diabetes, be it type 1, type 1.5, type 2, or type 3 represents a "Diabetes horse of a different color." FYI: There's a strong contingency that those horses are actually unicorns (diacorns? ) but I digress.

Each of us gets to be Glenda from time to time, allowing others to see themselves the way others see them - And that is a beautiful thing~


But the real lesson of the Movie is about the power that lies within each one of us.

At the end of the movie, Dorothy and company received for their courage, brains, a heart and a home.
Unbeknown st to them, each of them already possessed the things they never thought they had.

And each of those things reminded me of every single one of us in the DOC.

WHY? Because whether we know it our not, much like Dorthy & company, we possess all of those very same gifts.

HEARTD Parents & siblings have heart, because they put their children/siblings first and fight the good diabetes fight, 365 days a year.
D Spouses have heart because they take the whole "sickness & in health" vow VERY seriously and love their spouses & their spouses pancreas'.
Type 2's have to have heart because they go through diabetes discrimination on a daily basis and having heart is what allows them to see the good in others in order to see past the negativity and focus on diabetes.
LADA/ Type 1.5's 's require the gift of heart in order to accept a new and different way of life and run with it.
Type 1's must have heart because many have grown up with type 1. Growing up with a chronic illness has the potential to close off your heart from the world. Type 1s hearts are wide open & that's a wonderful thing.

COURAGE
D Parents & siblings have courage, because it's damn scary to be a D parent. It's scary & difficult to say no to your child when all you want to do is say yes. And even though the goal of every d parent is to eventually hand of the diabetes reins to their child when they become an adult, It's scary to prepare your child to eventually take over the reins of their diabetes management and it's even scarier to watch them do it.
I have the unique perspective of also being a d sibling - and I'm here to tell you - it can be very scary, but it teaches you to love and take care of the people that you love.
D Spouses have courage because it takes courage to love and it takes courage to sometimes be the one that has to be leaned on.

Type 2's have courage because it takes real courage to deal with being blamed for something that's not your fault, even though many who lack brains, think it is. Type 2s teach continually teach me that their diabetes struggles are just as trying as my own.

LADA/Type 1.5's have courage to be the person with a new category of diabetes, that many don't know even exist.

The bloggers who grew up (or who are growing up with) type 1 have courage. It takes courage to be a child with diabetes. It takes courage to see how your disease affects your family, and it takes courage to grow up and live a great life with your diabetes.

BRAINS
Dparents have brains - because they have to think not only for their needs, but their child's. They have to know carb counts and basal rates, and they have to continually think of new ways to encourage & educate their children with diabetes. D parents also must master the language of diabetes when most humans have given up on learning a new language.
D spouses have brains because they learn everything about diabetes they can so they can help their spouses.And Type 1, type 1.5 and type 2's have brains because brains are a MUST in order to deal with diabetes math & to get a grip on their diabetes. We are continually being bombarded with diabetes facts, figures, and calculations that would make a typical person sans diabetes heads spin. But we do it, and roll with it, and incorporate those diabetes facts into our every day diabetes reality.

YEP, each of us has a Diabetes Degree in Thinkology!

So basically, we are all are different, diabetically speaking. But each of us have incredible hearts, brains, courage and are living examples of those qualities.

And finally, each of us has found our HOME.

All of us, regardless of our type has found a home in the DOC, without ever having to click our heals 3 times. All we have to do is log on and log in!

Still..... I wouldn't mind a pair of ruby slippers- cause lord knows I love my some sparkly shoes!

27 comments:

Vivian said...

Ok you did it again. Even through your humor you made me cry. Love this post so much. You are awesome.

Meri said...

There is no place like home!

There is no place like home!

There is no place like home!

There is no one like Kelly! She is amazing!

Love ya!

Denise aka Mom of Bean said...

amazing, just amazing! always transported with your imagery and today is a great day to visit OZ :)

Heidi / D-Tales said...

LOVE this analogy!!!

You now have me singing Over the Rainbow! :)

The DL said...

What a beautiful post! Just fantastic as always.

MoiraMcC said...

I love this! I wonder if it is coincidence that my ONLY true talent is I can sing exactly like a munchkin. I really can. in all seriousness this is delightful and clever.

Anonymous said...

Great post, Kel! You are right on, as always (seriously, and I'm not just saying that...). Love how you tied this in with Oz. If only we had a Yellow Brick Road to guide us along this crazy winding path. But I know this community and every single voice in it is like a metaphoric brick paving that path ahead, and so thank you for being a brick-layer in helping create such an incredible and powerful and insight voice for all of us. You are simply amazing, my friend.

Sarah said...

What an awesome post. Wish I could follow a yellow brick road right over to you and give you a hug! Great job and thank you!

Lora said...

If ever a wonderful wiz there was...

I LOVE IT!!! I have a cheezin grin!!! Thanks for sharing :)

The Piquant Storyteller said...

I love the analogy. It's all so true. You did a great job with this one. I love how you love others with such an open heart. Thank you for that.

Tristan

Alexis Nicole said...

Beautiful analogy!!! I love it.

Wonderful post as usual!

Mike Durbin said...

LOVE this post, Kelly.

meanderings said...

You are so imaginative! Really.
Great post.
Maybe if we all click our shoes at the same time, there will be a cure. Maybe...

NeurosurgeryNP said...

LOVE. THIS. POST. With much humor, there is seriousness. I love the DOC.

Haley said...

Yes!! Totally mentioned in the Queen of Oz's blog!
I love you!!

Renata said...

Loved this! I agree with Michael, if only we had a yellow brick road. Keep looking forward honey, you will find your way.

Cherise said...

I love the references you made to the Wizard of Oz! Kelly you totally rock. Very beautiful post.

Angela said...

What a magical way to describe the connection that we all have!(I assume you have read Wicked?LOL!)Much joy-

Jess said...

kelly, this post is wonderful! i love it! a beautiful analogy!

and this kansas girl is digging the Oz nod! :)

Hallie Addington said...

Just beautiful, Kelly!! And who doesn't love sparkly shoes??? Sweets has some she can lend you!

George said...

LYLB!!!

Misty said...

I love this analogy! I am so grateful to call the DOC home.

Cara said...

Um, you totally related d to one of my favorite movies of all times. And did it VERY WELL. I so want to be you when I grow up. :P

Martin Wood said...

Love the creativity in this post! As I read through so many posts, and see how much of an inspiration you are to people K2, I am so proud of you and the DOC family and the lives that are touched each and every day. It's really quite humbling, but proves to me the value in sharing what we do.

Daisy said...

A truly beautiful metaphor for diabetes. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog :) x

Melissa Lee said...

One of the best posts from Day #1. Love the analogy!

Karen said...

Oh how I love this post. Seriously, you are just brilliant. And also? I'm with you on the sparkly red shoes - we need to find a couple of pairs of those!!