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I seem to remember flashes of those moments surrounding the diagnosis. The days leading up to it, the visit to the pediatrician to confirm, waiting for hours in the emergency department, finally settling in upstairs for the long night ahead, the constant beeps and alarms throughout the night, my daughter asking the nurse every time she walked in to silent the alarms if she could eat, eating cold eggs the next day at the clinic, meeting the clinicians for the first time. But despite how much I can clearly visualize just thinking of and recalling, there are a lot of things that just didn’t stick. I think I asked our diabetes nurse educator the same questions daily for two weeks. There was simply too much information to process all at the same time. Too much to remember. Too much to calculate. Living day to day finally took on new meaning.
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I've never been one to set resolutions around New Year's. I'm not sure why - maybe because I could never remember them, maybe because my goals are constantly changing, maybe because I never really believed I would benefit from the motivation. But this year, I am daring to do different.
My 2019 Resolutions... In 2017 I read 30 books. This was a huge effort for me. I set my goal at 24 and was surprised by my ability to surpass it. I did not start reading until my twenties and even since then it has not become second nature for me. Reading has always been challenging for me but it does seem to become easier the more I do it. This year I decided to once again read 30 books and add 30 audiobooks for a total goal of 60. I once read that a lot of successful business leaders read at least 60 books a year, and I figured if they can do it so can I. I’ve read about people reading 100 and I’m definitely not ready for that yet but enjoyed my 60 challenge.
For 2018, I read 37 books and listened to 26 audiobooks. This was possible by watching very little TV, listening to books while walking the dog or working out, and mixing types of books (there were some youth books thrown in too). All my audiobooks I listened to courtesy of the Denver Public Library. Books were a mix of books I’ve picked up along the way, read for book club, and borrowed from the library. The 2018 List and Ratings:  Creativity, Inc. - By Ed Catmull
I recently finished this book and already want to re-read it. I will admit its not for everyone, there were quite a few negative reviews on Goodreads that almost turned me away. But it was the right book for me at the right time. It is a book on business people management. Or at least that is what the intent was…. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race - by Reni Eddo-Lodge  I’m a little behind on Our Shared Shelf (OSS) book club reading. Do you know about OSS? It’s the online book club founded by Emma Watson for Goodreads members. I’m always aware of the books being selected but I’m not always prioritizing them. This is partly due to their popularity thus making it harder to get from the library and not usually on the book sale shelves. But I do add them to my want to read list, sometimes put holds on the book at the library, and when I can I do read them. I’m pretty introverted so I don’t always join in the online discussions on the books but sometimes I’ll peruse what is written and appreciate the different perspectives other readers have.
Here is my opinion on this book selection -  We live in Colorado so we know ALL about dry winters. Nothing ever seems to work enough, or last long enough, or it gets too greasy. So we’re always up for trying new products. Also, recognizing that what works in the winter won’t always work in the summer or spring or fall…
Well, I’m glad I tried this at Trader Joe’s. Not only is it inexpensive ($3.99) - I love it! I decided to try a themed book list this month. Seeing as February is Black History Month, I chose to read books along that theme. I found my youthful education was lacking in the truth and reality of our history. That it has been, and continues to be, easier to turn a blind eye. That I not only come from a place of privilege but of WHITE privilege. And that our history, has quite a bit not to be proud of. What is sad to me though, is that after all that, we have not truly shown that we have learned from our past and we have not made the progress that I wish we could be proud of.  I’m not intending this post to be contentious although I know the topic can be. So extreme health standards aside, here is my 5 & 5 for GF processed foods.
Starting with the positives…. Last year I read 31 books. My goal was 24. This year I decided to double it. A bunch of articles came out saying top executives read 60 books a year - I’m not a top executive yet but I’ll start getting in the habit. I figured if I can read 30 books then I can also listen to 30 audiobooks making up my 60. Well, I got off to a great start for January and read 12! (Two of them I actually finished in February but I’m going by start date here)
The time is now and it is not not just because of #metoo or #timesup but it is a pivotal time in our making of history. Like the suffragettes of our past, we are leading a monumental change that they helped pioneer.
We are changing, we are embracing the change, and we are using change to improve lives and sustainability. |
