Diabetes Blog Week: Day 6 - Diabetes Art.

This year Diabetes Art moves up from the Wildcard choices as we all channel our creativity with art in the broadest sense. Do some "traditional" art like drawing, painting, collage or any other craft you enjoy. Or look to the literary arts and perhaps write a d-poem or share and discuss a favourite quote. Groove to some muscial arts by sharing a song which inspires you diabetes-wise, reworking some song lyrics with a d-twist, or even writing your own song. Don't forget dramatic arts too, perhaps you can create a diabetes reality show or play. These are just a starting point today - there are no right or wrong ways to get creative.

Anyone that knows me will be able to vouch for the fact that I am not creative in any sense of the word: I can't draw, I can't paint, apparently even the way I colour is wrong (my colouring skills are often criticised by my person). Poetry's not really my thing, so that also rules out song writing (wow, a year out from working with kids because of year abroad and my creativity levels are awful!) So that leaves discussing a quote. I have one of those.

"Kids, I've been telling you the story of how I met your mother, and while there's many things to learn from this story, this may be the biggest. The great moments of your life won't necessarily be the things you do. They'll be the things that happen to you. Now, I'm not saying you can't take action to affect the outcome of your life. You have to take action. And you will! But never forget that any day, you could step out the front door, and your whole life could change forever. You see, the universe has a plan kids, and that plan is always in motion. A butterfly flaps its wings and it starts to rain. It's a scary thought, but it's also kind of wonderful. All these little parts of the machine constantly working, making sure you end up exactly where you're supposed to be, exactly when you're supposed to be there. The right place at the right time." -- Ted Mosby, How I Met Your Mother, "Right Place, Right Time" (S4, Ep 2).

Long quote, I know, but I love the whole thing. This is from an episode of How I Met Your Mother that I was watching the other day, and knowing what the prompts were for D-Blog Week, I thought it was one I could use today. 

I didn't do anything to cause my diabetes; it's something that happened to me, and although it's not what I would describe as "one of the great moments of my life", what has come of it is pretty great. To quote what Lizzie said to me the other week "I don't want it [diabetes] but I want what comes with it" - what comes with it being the friendships.

If I wasn't diagnosed with diabetes, I wouldn't have a lot of the friends I have today. And I have those friends because I took action: I went in search of other people with diabetes that I could talk to, as I didn't know anyone personally. Now I do, and not only do I know people on a personal level, but I'm also a part of this amazing online community. Who knows where I'd be if I hadn't have sought out others! I don't really want to think about it, as my current life would be lacking quite a few people who have become very good friends over the last few years. Scary thought, huh?!