Long before there were blue circles, blue nail polish, blue buildings, and/or blue…..well anything…….there was a blue that reminded me daily what this ‘diabetes thing’ is all about. From the time Kaitlyn was diagnosed on September 26th, 1992 I have found peace in the blue skies above.
A dear friend once asked me how I can travel so much and do it so easily. I have to do what I do, it’s so personal. The people I fly to meet, do not. They can give of their time and their money to a million other causes, they choose to support the efforts of the DRI (in my case; your case is just as valuable although it may be for a different organization—all just as vital.). I totally respect every effort, one dollar or millions; they do because they want to see this disease end…….I LOVE that energy. I need that energy.
Since that day over 22 years ago I have loved looking toward the heavens and seeing blue skies, it both represents and reminds me of the endless possibilities for Kaitlyn, now also Rob, and the millions others out there just like them who only want a life that allows them to be themselves.
Those same blue skies have shown me that tomorrow will always be better and that something great is happening in our diabetes world every day. Is it easy? No, it’s not but it’s surely worth it to try so hard to make their world better; to make better the world of others. Who gets to do that every day? Almost every waking hour.
There are other diseases that need help. Many other causes. A million other causes. My dear friend and one of the founders of the Diabetes Research Institute is Barbara Singer, a woman who I love dearly. Barbara taught me a lesson very early on in this battle, “Hit your own ball.” Simple approach, yet it has served me so well. I have too much to do with those who want to help, I have no time to spend idle energy on anything other than to work with those who want to make a difference.
It’s a big world out there, if you don’t agree with someone or some entity; wish them well because their heart is in what they do also just as yours is; and go about doing what you must for your energy to be well spent. ‘Hit your own ball’ indeed.
So today, let your ‘diabetes blue’ be the blue sky around you. Let it represent the endless possibilities out there for you and your family. And when those clouds appear, as they do in life, know that a time will come when that sky will clear up and be blue again. And those clear blue skies are the best representation of diabetes blue I could ever have in my life………crystal clear blue.
I am a diabetes dad.
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