Topic for today:
Click for the Accomplishments Big and Small -Thursday 5/16 Link List
We don’t always realize it, but each one of us had come a long way since diabetes first came into our life. It doesn’t matter if it’s been 5 weeks, 5 years or 50 years, you’ve done something outstanding diabetes-wise. So today let’s share the greatest accomplishment you’ve made in terms of dealing with your (or your loved one’s) diabetes. No accomplishment is too big or too small – think about self-acceptance, something you’ve mastered (pump / exercise / diet / etc.), making a tough care decision (finding a new endo or support group / choosing to use or not use a technology / etc.). (Thanks to Hilary of Rainie and Me for this topic suggestion.)
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This topic is actually much harder than it seems.
You know why?
Because when you live with diabetes, or care for someone with diabetes, your self-critiquing tendencies get amplified a whole bunch.
High blood sugar? What did I do wrong?
Low blood sugar? What did I do wrong?
Perfect blood sugar? Won’t be there for long!
With diabetes we always have to plan for the worst case scenario. It’s a survival mechanism! Can you imagine what it does to your mind when you are constantly planning for the worst?
But we have to. Can we leave the house without planning and preparing for the worst low blood sugar possible? No! Can we go on a trip without planning for the most catastrophic pump failure ever? No!
We have to be prepared. We have to always be prepared. Our very lives depend on it — LITERALLY!
So with that in mind – I am going to say that my biggest accomplishment has been learning to be more kind to myself.
We should all learn to be kinder to ourselves. It’s definitely hard to separate the need to care for our disease from the fact that we’re only human and trying to do something we’re really not capable of doing perfectly (and probably don’t want to do anyway). Accepting that has been difficult for me, too.
Love this post! It came at a great time, after meeting with my sons therapist who only sees how he cares for his diabetes in a very clinical way. And tends not to see the accomplishments that I see a year after diagnosis for a 13 year old boy who was VERY angry about this diagnosis. I have seen him develop humor and new management skills everyday. We need to celebrate the success no matter how little. Congrats to you on self acceptance!
That is all so true! That’s a great accomplishment. It’s also not an easy one.
This is a great post. Really like the way you sum things up – and kindness to yourself is truly no small accomplishment. Well said, Scott.