Happy 39th Birthday To Me + Spare a Rose 2018
Hello, 39.
The final year of my 30s begins... before that big milestone birthday that has been creeping ever more closely. Now here we are.
The final year of my 30s begins... before that big milestone birthday that has been creeping ever more closely. Now here we are.
And in just over a month, that diaversary time will also be here once again.
Amazingly, I look back over the years and find the Diabetes Online Community (our beloved #DOC) has certainly been one of the highlights in the context of diabetes. I find it incredible that a dozen years have now gone by since first finding those early blogs. So much has changed, and it still fascinates me that I managed to care about this enough to merge it into my career path.
Well first of all, it's 39 and not 4-0 (shudder), so it's really just another birthday. As this one falls on a Thursday, I will have a regular work-day. After hours, I'll certainly be enjoying some good craft brew near home with some friends and enjoying time with those I love.
Amazingly, I look back over the years and find the Diabetes Online Community (our beloved #DOC) has certainly been one of the highlights in the context of diabetes. I find it incredible that a dozen years have now gone by since first finding those early blogs. So much has changed, and it still fascinates me that I managed to care about this enough to merge it into my career path.
Never would have predicted that earlier in my life.
Anyhow, that mantra of You Are Not Alone continues to ring true and my most recent visit to North Texas for a JDRF summit reinforced this message. Our D-Community is incredible, and seeing the peer support, the heart that so many have is priceless. It fills the heart with so much joy.
I'm a bit bummed that I came down with a head-cold while traveling on the short trip, but luckily with the state of influenza these days I'm glad it didn't materialize into anything more severe (cue PSA here for flu shots!). This small little bug passed just in time for the b-day celebrations, so that's a bonus I guess...
How am I marking my birthday?
Well first of all, it's 39 and not 4-0 (shudder), so it's really just another birthday. As this one falls on a Thursday, I will have a regular work-day. After hours, I'll certainly be enjoying some good craft brew near home with some friends and enjoying time with those I love.
Of course, there's another diabetes-related aspect to the birthday scene, as well...
I'm once again embracing the Spare a Rose, Save a Child campaign that always kicks into gear this time of year as we head into Valentine's Day.
The idea is simple: to use the power of social media and our ever-growing online D-community to do good. Instead of buying the typical "dozen roses" that are so popular on Valentine's Day, you buy just 11 and donate the value of that last flower to help a child with diabetes. You still get to be romantic and give your loved one roses, while you both show some love to someone who really needs it.
Now for 2018, this is going to be the 6th year. Spare a Rose has raised nearly $97,000 since its inception in February 2013. All of that money has gone to support the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) Life for a Child program, which was founded in 2000 to help children with diabetes in developing countries, those who might otherwise die immediately or have a short life without this assistance.
This is a cause I fully support, and each year when my birthday rolls around, I make a point now to promote this campaign while also making a donation.
Here's to making a difference in the world, one "rose" at a time. To me, that's a pretty good way to mark my birthday.
Now for 2018, this is going to be the 6th year. Spare a Rose has raised nearly $97,000 since its inception in February 2013. All of that money has gone to support the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) Life for a Child program, which was founded in 2000 to help children with diabetes in developing countries, those who might otherwise die immediately or have a short life without this assistance.
This is a cause I fully support, and each year when my birthday rolls around, I make a point now to promote this campaign while also making a donation.
Here's to making a difference in the world, one "rose" at a time. To me, that's a pretty good way to mark my birthday.
Comments
Even top-grain leather has been sanded and flaws eliminated in order to make the leather more homogeneous. Full-grain leather, on the other hand, is unaffected by this concept and retains its original beauty.