Next month is November. Thanksgiving and Diabetes Awareness Month in the same month. They almost seem like polar opposites, don’t they? To begin, and let me be 1000% clear on this point: I. HATE THIS. DISEASE. I, like that fiddle play who made a deal with the devil that he was better, would also sell my soul for my kids not to have this disease. That’s how much I hate it. Even now that they are adults, the worry is still there. I cannot imagine what goes through their heads each night when they lay their head down. A fear must always be there. You do not need me to define that fear, any word you can think of, and I would say ‘yes’ to that fear.
The fear factor recognized, and having sat where I can keep tabs on it, I would like to take this time to share the Thanksgiving side of this unequal scale of life. And that truly comes down to just one thought, and that is the people who we have met along this journey. My goodness, what a collection of wonderful, thought-provoking, dedicated, and many-sided personalities are in our lives because of this disease. I would not trade any of them for anything.
People in our lives who have made a difference by merely acting upon (and stating the obvious) the thought that diabetes will just ‘not do’ in any space in anyone’s life. They have advocated, educated, researched, shared, cried, laughed, and given of their time, resources, talents, and money to diabetes causes. There is not one aspect of my life that has not been touched by someone making a difference in our diabetes world, and I thank God for each and every one of them each and every day.
One of the biggest blessings on my journey in this world has been a mom from Texas. Kim is one of those people who fall under the category of ‘super-human,’ and I have been so blessed by knowing her and her family. Kim owns her own ad agency, is active with her foundation (funding a camp for those in need and funding diabetes research), is active in her community, and is a wife and a mom to her wonderful family.
Over the years, so many have stated that they do not have the ability to make a difference and they would not know where to begin. This is diabetes awareness month, and if you are looking for something that will cost you nothing but time, I have got a job for you. Years and years ago, I reached out on social media for someone to partner with an idea. The idea was to give people who feel they do not have the means to change the world. A vehicle that could do just that: change someone’s world.
Kim answered my request, and we have been friends since.
The result was Get Diabetes Right.org. This site is full of catchy phrases that can be printed and posted throughout any community to help spread the word on diabetes awareness. At the bottom of each square, you will notice two options, “Dark Background or White Background.” click the one you want to work with. I will share that the white background will use less ink from your printer. Imagine if just one person sees something you posted that drives them to ask their doctor for an examination. What more could one ever ask for but to impact someone’s life……even save a life?
Margaret Mead once stated, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Please let me know what you were able to accomplish in your community
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like.’