Tuesday, July 22, 2014

The movement has begun.

My whole mind and soul is still reeling on the heels of MasterLab at FFL.

The MasterLab agenda was filled with informative and motivational speakers, the most compelling being Michael Mangianello.  He was a key disturber of the AIDS movement, and played a pivotal role in putting a face on AIDS and getting policy and moneys allocated for the cause.

At the Children with Diabetes Friends for Life conference you are given a bracelet at registration.  A green bracelet means you have Type 1, a Orange bracelet means you love someone with Type 1.

Michael said so many things that socked me in the chest. Completely paraphrasing: "I walk down the hall and see these little tiny children with Green bracelets.  It makes me angry.  There are too many green bracelets. You are too comfortable with the status quo.  You have the numbers, you have the leaders, you have the means and the social networks....it's time to start a movement."

Which begs the question, is our community passionate enough to start a movement?

Are we angry enough to start a movement?

I'm afraid we might not have it in us.  Yet.

I say that because I know that JDRF, the ADA and others have asked us to do simple things for our cause, and for the most part, we don't do them.

They, on occasion, have asked us to call our congressman.  Did we do that?  Very very few of us do.  One phone call, and most of us can't even make it.

We are asked to write.  We are asked to comment.  Are we?

If we can't do the little things, how can we rise up and do the big?  How can we shut down the White House switch board when we can't even get a handful to make the calls?  What is stopping us?

I think I have a small inkling of what it may be.

During the MasterLab event there was a presentation on the Spare a Rose Campaign.  It highlighted the good the DOC can do when we put our collective forces together.  Spare a Rose raised money for children all around the world in developing countries who don't have access to insulin.  It saved lives.  Literally.

But the comment was made: "What about the children in the US?  Why aren't we helping them."

And another comment, "How can $5 save a child for an entire month?  It just doesn't make sense."

I think sometimes we realize that our helping is only a drop in the bucket, or in our case, a drop in the silo.  We see clearly there is so much that needs to be done...surely my $5, my call, my letter won't make any real difference at all.

Which brings us back to the starfish principle.  The little girl that was throwing starfishes back into the ocean after the tide went out?  A gentleman, after looking down the beach at the thousands and thousands of starfish questioned why she was even bothering when she barely would make a dent...she wasn't really making a difference, right?

"Well, I just made a difference to this one." She said as she threw another starfish back in the ocean.

Small things done collectively can make giant changes in the world.

Until we start believing that nothing will change.

Don't depend on others to tell your story.  Your story is unique and important.  One of my favorite quotes from MasterLab is, "You know how the saying goes, if you've spoken to one diabetic, you've spoken to one diabetic."

Our uniqueness is powerful. We are letting it divide us, when really it should be used to unite us. The fact that everyone's diabetes is different is one of the reasons we need to make a fuss.  The world is making blanket assumptions about Diabetes, and we're letting them.

Your voice is needed in the din.  It could be yours that finally brings our voices to the surface, just like that little Who down in Whoville that made all the difference to his community.


Is there something moving in your chest yet?

Is there fire there?

If yes.  Good.

If no.  Find that match.

Start HERE.

This is our time.

The movement has begun.


39 comments:

  1. AMEN, sista!! I love this post so much, thank you for writing it! And I love you!
    Also: CHECK

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  2. You stole the words right out of my mouth! What a great post!!!

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  3. We often focus on the fact that one person can't change the masses, we forget that sometimes you just need to reach one person!

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  4. You are seriously one of the smartest people I know. Thank you for saying this so well.

    #dblogcheck

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  5. This may be the best post I've read all day with #dblogcheck. Very well said! Thanks!

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  6. It only takes a spark to get the fire going. Thank you for being that spark!

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  7. Not enough love for this post. You stated everything so well. Let's fire up the steamroller and begin the movement!

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  8. You're always so succinct & composed & motivational. Teach me your ways!

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  9. Thanks for getting the fire started:) #dblogcheck

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  10. AWESOME post Meri! I have the fire! You really nailed it when you said that so many of us feel at one time or another that we can't make a difference. Love the analogy to Horton...WE ARE HERE!!!!

    #dblogcheck

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  11. This is so powerful...thank you! Shared this with two communities: 'P.O.K.E.D. Parents of Kids Experiencing Diabetes' and 'CGM in the Cloud' two groups started by parents who can't wait any longer for change and support.

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  12. Check! Great blog.

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  13. Love this!! I went to the advocacy board you supplied & signed up. I didn't realize there was one!! Thank you for stoking the flame:) #wearenotwaiting #dblogcheck

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  14. So well said! I have often been guilty of feeling as if my little effort wouldn't make much difference. Master Lab put a fire in my belly to do more! Also, it was nice to shake your hand, finally.

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  15. I can't quite put into words how much I agree with this... so Check!

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  16. I have become better at doing the little things and I can thank those in the DOC who have shown me the way. Great post, Meri. Check!

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  17. Thank you Meri, for inspiring us. While at this Masterlab, and during this speech I was writing a press release and came up with:

    The difference between apathy and advocacy is whinnying and action.

    Which will you choose?

    Check!

    Trip Stoner

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  18. I love your spirit and I'm on board. Ready, not waiting. <3 Thank you Meri.

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  19. Nicely written ... like always!

    #dblogcheck

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  20. I think it's time drug companies and pump developers were pressured to make $5 be enough to truly help a diabetic in the States.

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  21. I totally agree with is statment about the green bracelets. We should be angry! But I would have never thought to be angry about it because those bracelts, both green and orange, represent something good... it means we are amoung our family. It means I am not alone... they make me happy.

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  22. I have never heard the starfish story before and I love it...thanks for sharing!

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  23. Good grief - that's a whole lot of comments up there! Yay, Meri! Starfish story - my favorite. Horton Hears a Who - another favorite.
    Writing to my congress person - did it - even got a response.
    Keep on writing, Meri!

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  24. Great post, Meri. Thanks for sharing your perspective on MasterLab. Now the question: What is OUR movement as it relates to diabetes?

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  25. Stay passionate, Meri! From a t1d for 42+ years, thank you so much for caring about this.

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  26. YES! We need to remember that each of our "little bits" add up together into a "BIG bit". Coming together as a community, regardless of type, only serves to make us stronger. Even within the types, no one's diabetes is the same, so why let labels separate us! #dblogcheck

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  27. You are awesome. That is all :) #dblogcheck

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  28. What an absolutely perfect post to publish today(yesterday)!

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  29. Great post, Meri! It's so true- each of our voices really make a difference- both by itself & definitely when joined together with others on the same issue(s). As the Chair of the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) National Advocacy Committee, I see this at work all the time through the work of ADA's diabetes advocates & staff. I'm an ADA volunteer, a mom, a wife, a nurse and a person who's lived with Type 1 diabetes since I was 10 (it'll be 34 yrs in Oct). My story- my personal and professional experiences with diabetes- are what my Members of Congress & my state legislators want to hear. Our stories are worth far more- and are remembered much longer than the stats- by sharing our story, we put a face on diabetes. ADA is doing great things on behalf of children and adults with diabetes. WE NEED YOU to help us continue to build bridges to your communties to make sure people with diabetes have a voice. It's easy- start by signing up to be a diabetes advocate at www.diabetes.org/takeaction

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  30. This! "Our uniqueness is powerful. We are letting it divide us, when really it should be used to unite us. The fact that everyone's diabetes is different is one of the reasons we need to make a fuss. The world is making blanket assumptions about Diabetes, and we're letting them."

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