Happy World Diabetes Day

This pic was taken in 2018, for Zane's newborn photo shoot. TJ was 21 months old. 

I’VE FOUND MY PURPOSE IN LIFE. Keep reading to find out how living with diabetes has shown me why I was put on this earth. Happy World Diabetes Day. 

Today is an incredibly special day. It’s like my birthday or diaversary, but the whole world of people living with diabetes celebrates. I love the connection I feel to everyone living with diabetes. I love seeing everyone posting and sharing their story. 

Our stories are so unique and the more we share, the more we help others feel like they’re not alone. If I’ve seen your account, or even if I haven’t seen your account yet, you have helped me feel like I am not alone.

I lived for 16 years without any support from a community of people living with diabetes. I started my Instagram account in 2015 to share my diabetic journey. I didn’t realise my goal was to find a connection; five years later I have found everything I’m looking for and more.

I’VE FOUND MY PURPOSE IN LIFE. I want to help everyone living with diabetes feel like they can do anything, they can fulfil their dreams and diabetes doesn’t hold them back. 

Growing up I wanted to find my passion in life so badly that it’s taken living with diabetes for 22 years, working in the construction industry for 12 years, getting a degree in business, traveling the world, getting married to @trevorcookhale and having 2 baby boys that I craved the answers to questions like; what inspires me? What was I put on this earth to do? How can I help others? and how can I find meaning and purpose in a career? And ultimately what would I do for free? 

Well, I’ve found my answer, because I am dedicated to helping people feel great, especially people living with T1D. I am grateful that I was given something — that doesn’t have a return policy — that inspires me to help others, while helping myself. My mum wrote me a note once and it said “aspire to inspire before you expire.” I did it mum, I discovered that I want to inspire people and that I care so deeply about others journey and helping them feel great. 

I love sharing our stories and raising awareness. I have big dreams and big goals. I’m going to achieve them one small step at a time by staying connected to the diabetes community, to whom I’m so grateful.  We are coming up to Thanksgiving here in America and it is a time to reflect on what we are thankful for.

We can manage diabetes in so many different ways that being grateful for it can sometimes seem like a burden. But I wouldn’t be writing this and you reading this unless we had this thing (living with diabetes) to connect us.  

Happy World Diabetes Day!