Diabetes and the Dance

I recently met a beautiful young lady who is a committed runner and fitness enthusiast who also deals with the repercussions of Type I Diabetes.  As a young child, her world was changed by this life-long disease.  When I asked her about her journey with diabetes and running, she taught me an important lesson on coping.  She told me that when she first wakes up, her body is not yet vulnerable to the full scope of the effects of diabetes.  Therefore, she runs immediately upon waking so that she essentially circumvents her body and sways it into functioning in a way that allows her to run.  Isn’t that amazing?!  She has learned the power of modification and adaptation to cope with the discord her body would otherwise feel if she ran at a different time of day.  What if we became more like this runner and we didn’t avoid the discord but learned to dance with it and learned its steps?  This woman found a way to acknowledge the disease but not become defeated as its prisoner.  She dances with it.  She knows the moves and steps of diabetes and chooses to work with it and not against it.  She is creative, because she gets up early and immediately goes from the bed to the road.  She is resourceful, because she makes sure she brings glucose-based snacks like dried fruit while she is running to ensure she has safeguards if her body does give her problems.  She is realistic, because she goes as far as her body allows and then stops when it communicates with her that she is pushing too hard.  She has learned the dance.  Dancing with your discord is a far better coping method than fighting against personal struggle. 

Have you taken the time to think about what your “diabetes” is?  If you have an overwhelmed schedule, you might consider taking measures to incorporate more deliberate yes’s and no’s into your routine.  If you have children who are not behaving in a positive manner, you might think about parenting skills techniques.  If you have an eating disorder, you might ponder the triggers that set the behaviors into motion.  If you have a fractured relationship with a friend or spouse, you might explore counseling, mediation, or other communication measures.  If you have a heart condition, you might search for medical interventions and ways to reduce stress.  If you have an emotional or mood disorder, you might want to find a psychologist or books on coping mechanisms.  The list of possible “diabetes” or discords is endless, because they are unique to you.  Take the time to figure out potential impediments that could bar you from being the fullest version of yourself.  But, don’t stop there.  Study it to determine the dance that fits.

If you watch a person dance with their partner, they fundamentally must understand the nuisances of the person and anticipate their next moves.  A well-orchestrated dance prevents tripping and falling.  Isn’t that such a fine metaphor for fluidly working with whatever issues come our way?!  When we positively approach perceived difficulties with the grace of a dancer, we can work the dance floor by covering the stage with refined anticipation.  So, dance baby dance!   

Changepoints:

As you evaluate the personal “diabetes” in your own life (whatever they may be), consider these thoughts:

·       Do I truly understand the nature of my discord so that I can get to know it as a potential partner?

·       Have I considered tactics to anticipate the discord that might occur in my life?

·       How will I practice my dance steps to ensure a well-prepared routine?

·       Will I be creative, resourceful and realistic about the issues that might be presented to me?

·       How will I be prepared for the effects that will likely come my way because of my discord?

·       Have I done a risk/reward analysis of not coming to terms with my individual discord?

Dance with your discord using your own personal routine and style.  The dance stage welcomes everything from the waltz to the salsa.  Just dance!

outSIGHTin, LLC: Creating awareness as a changepoint for improved organizational results