Andrew Young
TCOYD Newsletter, Vol. 25, 2008

Diabetes - A shortcut to greatness.

An Accelerated Course in Greatness

We diabetics are abundantly human. We miss, forget, foul up, flake on our diabetes regimen, or just don’t do enough to take care of ourselves. Frequently our blood glucose simply doesn’t cooperate!

I’ve struggled a lot with these issues. My perfectionism in controlling my blood glucose numbers, or the attempt, leaves me angry with myself when I over-eat at my favorite Indian restaurant and my glucose goes through the roof, or screw up my carb counting and go hypo in a meeting. My lack of compassion towards me and my mistakes is astounding sometimes, and diabetes provides opportunities for mistakes galore. But I don’t think Mother Theresa and the Dalai Lama became who they are by beating themselves up every day for making mistakes (or getting “bad” glucose numbers). Nope. Just the opposite, I believe. In fact I am convinced that their human imperfections and suffering became huge contributions to their greatness.

Making a Difference When it Really Matters

We diabetics are abundantly equipped to help others who are suffering, because of our own suffering, loss, and mortality— things we know intimately. Rarely can we “save” any human being who is suffering. Hard to accept. But our presence in his or her suffering, the feeling we can bestow of being no longer alone, the wholehearted acceptance of that person when he or she is most vulnerable… these provide immense healing comfort.

I recall visiting a terminally-ill friend with cancer whom others could not see without being so caught up in their fear of suffering and mortality that they almost needed more support than him. Just holding his hand and providing a caring, warm presence made all the difference.

Remember back when you were a child and sick, and how your mom, dad, or grandparent shared their loving presence and took on your distress? That’s what we have to offer through our experience.

Compassion is Proactive

We also live in dynamic tension as diabetics. It really matters that we get serious about health-related goals— for post-meal blood glucose, blood pressure, HbA1c, exercise, and weight management. It really matters that we practice self-discipline in sticking to our treatment plan, so our lives can be long, vital, and rich. We care for ourselves in the future with compassion by making tough choices today.

Forgiveness Creates the Space for Success

Compassion and forgiveness for ourselves are not about sloppiness and lowering standards; they are an opening in which to soften, and then recommit fully without the drag of internal conflict. Through forgiveness we create the space to improve, reinforcing the goal of good health not the error we want to abolish. Mind over mellitus.

Happiness

And compassion enables us to forgive our most close and loving caretakers (that would be you and me) - all the time. Be gentle to you when you blow it. Remember who the closest partner and protagonist to your heart is.

Even if you can’t do it for yourself, make self-forgiveness and acceptance a “lay-away” gift for the cherished people so affected by our internal states every day—children, spouses, partners, parents, friends, co-workers, and bosses.

The Dalia Lama shares, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

Greatness

When we love, and strive, and gracefully accept what life gives, we are at our greatest.

The opportunities to exercise graceful acceptance are HUGE with diabetes. If we seize them, day by day our capacity to love others and our capacity to love our diabetic selves grow—and with it grows our own quality of greatness.

Now THAT, is a pretty cool diabetes “complication” I want more of.

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