Monday, May 16, 2016

Message Monday - #DBlogWeek Day 1

200x200Welcome to the first day of the seventh Diabetes Blog Week.  I’m so excited and thankful for everyone participating this year!  If you’d haven’t yet signed up but would like to join in, sign ups are still open using the form found here (just scroll down a bit).

Today’s topic is Message Monday.  Lets kick off the week by talking about why we are here, in the diabetes blog space. What is the most important diabetes awareness message to you? Why is that message important for you, and what are you trying to accomplish by sharing it on your blog? (Thank you, Heather Gabel, for this topic suggestion.)

You are not alone!!!!

I started this diabetes blog in 2008.  The reason was simple . . . . to connect with others who live with diabetes.  I had always felt alone when it came to living with diabetes and when I realized the internet could put me in contact with others on similar journeys to mine, I knew I had found what I didn’t even know I was looking for.

I soon realized that the reason I was craving connections with other People With Diabetes (or PWDs) was because what I really needed was SUPPORT.  Soon it become important that I not only found people who would support me, but that I also, of course, was longing to give support back.

MyRoots

Of course, in the (almost) eight years I’ve been blogging about diabetes, both the Diabetes Online Community (or DOC) and my involvement here has grown and developed and changed.  Advocacy has become an integral part of what we are doing here, and I think that’s important.  But I also feel like I have drifted away from the support aspect quite a bit, and I’ve been feeling lately like it’s time to get back to my roots.  Time to scale back a bit on other things and put more time and energy into support.  With that in mind, I’ve stepped down from volunteering as a JDRF Advocacy Team Chairperson.  I wouldn’t trade the time I spent working on JDRF Advocacy for the world and I’m lucky to have served for almost 5 years.  But I find myself craving getting back to support.

I’m excited to continue leading the monthly DiabetesSisters Virtual PODS group.  We also hope to schedule another Global PODS in the near future, to connect women from all over the world for support.  I’m still enjoying volunteering on another chapter’s JDRF Type 1 Adult Outreach committee.  A few of the local Medtronic reps have launched a new monthly support group in my area.  And I need to get back to reading and commenting on blogs and spending more time connecting on Twitter.

I love that the DOC and my involvement here has grown to reach places and do things I never could have imagined.  I’m so thankful for each and every opportunity that has come my way.  And I’m excited to spend some more time getting back to my roots, and the message that you, all of you out there, are not alone.


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You can find more Message Monday posts listed here.

What is Diabetes Blog Week?  Click here for an explanation and to sign up.  You can also check out the Participant’s List here.

19 comments:

  1. Karen, you are such a rock star! I'm hoping I can make the next virtual pods meeting you host. I'm so glad you started Diabetes Blog Week, it's a great way to get support and not feel alone! I look forward to this week every year!

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  2. Karen, I think you try to be inclusive of all in the DOC. I frequently see your comments on other blogs I read, not to mention d Blog Week and your advocacy outside of the DOC! Should be a great week ahead!

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  3. Thank you for starting this... I had no idea we started blogging around the same time!

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  4. P.S. Will I be seeing you this July???

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    1. Yes!!!! We will be back this year! Can't wait to see you!

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  5. I love how you do this. It is just right.

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  6. What you do makes me feel supported. Thank you!

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  7. Thank you for the opportunity.. and the self-nudge.. to be able to share. Diabetes Blog Week is so very important.

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  8. Thank you for doing this each year! This is the first year I've participated. I hope I can make it the whole week. LOL

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  9. I love the virtual pod that Karen hosts monthly. It is nice to meet others like us and puts things in perspective. Many thanks

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  10. I have just stumbled across Diabetes Blog Week and decided to join in. Thanks for setting it up! I have come across many wonderful blogs!

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  11. I hope you know how much I admire all you've done and "thank you" doesn't seem nearly enough to cover it. You make my world a better place. xo

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  12. Love your message, and I love the graphic! You are so important to this community, in whatever capacity that is. I'm loving #dBlogWeek!

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  13. You're a super heroine, Karen. Thanks for being part of my life:-)

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  14. You are very important to many of us Karen, getting back to roots? You never left.

    I referred your blog to the TUDiabetes blog page for the week of May 16, 2016.

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  15. Thank you for all the support to the DOC Karen! I look forward to D-blog week every year as a way to make new connections & feel supported. Imagine all the people who would have never connected or felt that support if it weren't for you. <3

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  16. Thanks for all you do Karen. I'm glad to have found you and your blog when I was first diagnosed.

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Thanks for your comment!