Good morning everyone
Cloudy here right now at 5am. Really cold when I got up at 4am.
BG 5.5
Today church, walk, food, rest, oh and a bit more keyboard practice.
Some thoughts regarding how I manage my type 2 diabetes...
When I got my first keyboard no one thought I would be able to learn how to play (and they told me so), and at first they were right, but they underestimated me and my determination. It was through that first keyboard that I started a life long friendship with the then church keyboard player who was very good. This is some 30 odd years ago.
It all started when in the middle praise and worship I noticed that the keyboard player seemed to do his playing really simply/easily (Hmmm more fool me). At the end of the service I walked up to him and asked if he would teach me, back came the answer...no! Not being deterred by that I offered him a cooked tea if he would do one lesson, this time the answer was...yes. and so lessons continued along with the food Each time!
It turned out that he was not a good teacher but we got on really well, and a friendship grew. The keyboard lessons? He did advise on numerous things that really helped. I decided to create my own method and notation which worked really well...I needed a successful way forward...and indeed it was successful as I was invited to play at the church within 6 months.
However, initially I knew nothing about keyboards and that was reflected in the fact that I bought a cheap keyboard with no ability to connect a sustain pedal. Lesson 1 was very short and not very successful (depending on how you look at it). I rushed out next day to return the keyboard and buy a better one. And from there the keyboard playing and composing and friendship all blossomed but it all took time and effort and a 'can do' approach, and learning, always learning.
The story didn't end there...years later I wanted to play the pipe organ, an instrument I fell in love with when I was very young. Again everyone said I wouln't be able to do it. A thousand years later...I saw an opportunity at a local church and cheekily asked the pastor if I could play their huge pipe organ. He said yes and within 6 months I was playing it in services.
so why am I telling you all this? I see parallels with diabetes...
We all face nay-sayers and often at diagnosis we feel lost, hopeless, no future, embarrassed, in an impossible, doom ridden mess...and yet...if we take personal responsibility, learn as much as we can, discover that a better future IS possible, change, do what works for us individually, ignore the doubters but listen to those with experience and knowledge, and to our bodies, AND know where we are starting from, knowing that success may be possible, we can become better than anyone expected....but...we have to find a way forward that suits us individually and a way that generates success...it' a journey of learning, discovery and reward. We are capable of far more than we, at first, think.
The failures along the way? Blips along the road, not disasters, but more information that may help us improve our own method of dealing with our diabetes. When I started to learn how to play the keyboard it was not very pretty and certainly not very tuneful and yet looking to my friend, I knew that playing well MUST surely be possible, so I kept going and practicing through the chaos moving ever closer towards success.
Now, I knew that I would nver be a concert pianist and setting myself an achievable goal helped me focus and enjoy the journey. The same is true with managing our diabetes, simple, attainable goals, not a leap too far at any time and yet an ultimate goal to go for long term.
And... the initial dischordant noise was actually essential/useful as I got instant feedback of what workd and what did not...just like finger prick testing. I have found it essintial/useful...anyway...
Believing in ourselves, believing in a better future, is hardest when at the start with no knowlege, no experience, no hope, and this is where this forum is a God-send...people who are kind enough to help, advise, pass on their knowlege freely, encourage, gently correct, support.
Er, sorry, thoughts/lesson over for today over....probably easier to read than a rant.
🙂
Have a greater day today whatever you are doing
