July 27, 2009

Joyousness

I have been trying for days to finish this sentence: The diabetes blogger summit, hosted by Roche, in Indianapolis was ____.

So after a few days of coming up blank for the blank, I am filling the blank with the word joyous.

The diabetes blogger summit, hosted by Roche, in Indianapolis was joyous.

Diabetes, Joyous. That seems like a dichotomy.

Everybody who knows it, hates diabetes. Chief among the many thinks that makes it bad is its ability to make those who live with it feel alone. We are isolated by being the one who gets it in a sea of humanity who don’t.

Some of us are lucky to find little points of light in that isolation, some stars. We are able to reach out over the internet and connect with the page, blog or wall of someone else. That virtual connection is a blessing. A life line when you face the unfortunate consequences of dealing with people who don’t get it.

In our case it was a school, others it was maybe an insurer, a doctor, a limo driver or a family member. They don’t get our lives with the Betes and so they can’t comprehend us. As that gap widens it isolates us all them more.

This event was the people who get it.

I learned that my darkest dark was a stroll in the park compared to paths some have walked. That was a joy, not in the sense of relief that I didn’t go there too but that we were sufficiently trustworthy to be told those stories.

There are more levels to this experience but joyous is a good umbrella to cover them all.

Our challenge is the vast sea, not of people who don’t get it but those who do who haven’t found their joyousness.

6 comments :

  1. Bennet -
    And it was a quite a joy to meet you my friend! You make me laugh, you say what you feel, and you are are an eclectic & fantastical type 3!
    Kelly K

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  2. You are a remarkable T3. Your family, your kids are SO blessed to have you as their father.

    Well said. Perfectly said.
    So, so darn Right On.

    ((hugs))

    wv: disole
    Because of the D-OC, I will never feel disoled. Ever.

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  3. I hate it when I feel envy - but I am feeling it now because it's like all the cool kids had a party and I wasn't there! It makes me think I'm going to have to start blogging in order to join in all the fun. Well, who knows? Maybe I have something to say.

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  4. Bennet - Thank you for your words about the Roche Summit. I am a parent of a 6 year old girl who was recently diagnosed Type 1 in January. Your words hit home in this post. I have found, amongst this vast internet and blogospheres, a world of knowledge, compassion, humor and those who have come before my daughter and not only survived, but thrived and went on to such meaningful lives. I wish that immensely for my daughter. I want her to meet all of you and she's only 6!!!! I want her to see the future and I want to be reminded that it is possible to live with this horrible disease of which we were the lucky lottery winners. It's possible, that's what you give parents of Type 1 kiddos, that it's possible and perhaps, in its own right, joyous. Thank you.

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  5. Penny

    There is exactly the same experience for your 6 year old daughter. It is called Friends for Life. Plan on being in Orlando next July.

    Friends for Life Annual International Conference 2010 at the Marriott World Center Resort in Orlando, Florida (June 30 - July 4, 2010)

    See: http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com

    Saramy - I have no clue why I of all people got invited - I sure don't pass the cool kid test - heck I am bearing down on being Stadler and or Waldorf form the Muppets. There are programs at FFL form folks young adults to grandparents you may want to have a peek too and check out some of the cool kids blogs posts about it like Kerri's at http://sixuntilme.com

    I am over due for some thoughts of FFL too. Stay tuned.

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  6. As K2 & CAL have said, it was really something special to meet you in person. You are an amazing advocate for not only your kids, but for many families out there. Amazing.

    And you're also highly entertaining. :-)

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