Wednesday, March 18, 2015

My UnConference Experience

I want to start my saying THANK YOU to Christel for having a vision and a dream and making it real.  I want to say THANK YOU to the UnConference Collective for supporting that dream, adding their own touch to it, and making it a reality. 


Trying to put into words what the Diabetes UnConference meant to me is difficult.  If I could use my hands in a blog post, not only would they be waving all over the place, but they would clap twice, and hug everyone.

Ever since I started on Twitter and dipped my toe into the world of the DOC (Diabetes Online Community) I have heard about diabetes conferences.  The blog posts and twitter posts made me wish I could attend each and every conference.  I wanted to be able to experience that level of "ME TOO" that is so powerful.  Unfortunately, travel is not always in my budget, or my health (have I said I HATE flying?).  So I would read the posts and wish.

My wish came true.

Last year sometime, it was announced that the First Ever Diabetes UnConference would be held in Las Vegas.  LAS VEGAS!!  That is an easy driving distance for me.  I could actually go.  I COULD GO!  Let the planning commence! 

Plans were made and money was saved.  I was going to a Diabetes Conference... and I was nervous as all everything. 

You see, in my ten and a half years of being blessed with this disease, I had been judged and pitied, looked at with weird looks, asked "why can't you do that in the bathroom", been told of every cure, and that I just wasn't smart enough to listen.  Yes.. I was actually told that I didn't have the intelligence to know better.  Talk about a verbal slap across the face.. with a cast iron skillet.

I knew that I wouldn't experience any of that at the UnConference.  I knew that everyone attending understood how much a pain this is, how exhausting it can be, and how no matter how hard we try some days diabetes wins.  I knew that I would come away feeling better and stronger.  What I didn't know was how much I would love everyone I met.

From the moment of my first hug from Bea when I picked her up at the airport, I knew my d-family had grown.  I was adding members to my all important d-family faster than I could remember everyone's names.  There were a few people I had met in real life before, but everyone else I just knew from online.  Thank goodness we all had name tags. 

I learned so much, and yet nothing was new.  I learned that I wasn't alone and never would be.  I learned that some four letter words are standard descriptions for diabetes, and it's okay to shout them as loud as possible.  I learned that we all have little tricks and tips that may or may not work for everyone, after all your diabetes may vary (I owe you a quarter, Bennet).  I learned that the fears I had, others had had too.  I learned that we would be okay.. together.  I knew all this, but hearing someone else say ME TOO, made it that more valid and real to me.

I know that diabetes makes us stronger, not just emotionally and mentally, but physically as well.  I am truly convinced that broken pancreases make arms stronger.  I have never had so many tight, comforting, and totally awesome hugs as I did there.  (Hold on, some #VegasDust just blew in.)

I can honestly say that at all times I felt Welcomed, I felt Valued, and I felt Respected. 

AT. ALL. TIMES.

I will never forget my first ever diabetes conference and I can hardly wait for the next one.



14 comments:

  1. Jenn,
    It was awesome to meet you and experience #DUnCon with you in all its glory! I can't wait until next year :-D
    Susan C

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    1. Likewise! Next year is going to be great!

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  2. This was yet another perfect UnConference recap post. I am so glad I got to add you to my D family and cannot wait until next year!

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    1. Having you in my D family is a blessing as well. Is it next year yet?

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  3. Heart you so much, Jenn!!! You are amazing, and I loved getting the chance to hug you in person. Can't wait for the next time!!!

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    1. Hugs can never be underestimated in their ability to bring people together! I'll save a special one for you for next time. :D

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  4. Jenn, I am so lucky to have met you in person now, and I am luckier still to read this recap of your experience. You are the best kind of people, and I hope we both get to the Unconference next year!

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    1. The blessings go both ways, Stephen. I was a true pleasure being able to meet you. You can totally count me in for next year! I'll be there with bells...and maybe slippers...on.

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  5. WAS SO GREAT TO FINALLY MEET YOU (and why is there this screen in my way, when I just want to reach through and give you a big hug?!?). Such a great experience, and it reiterated that feeling of Not Being Alone every moment. Really made me appreciate how great it is to attend any event with D-friends, because it's that off-script interaction and meetup that makes it so special. Can't wait to see you again at some point, and in the meantime to stay more connected thanks to the online world we have.

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  6. Screens are everywhere! I'm really thinking a teleport device needs to be invented.. and pronto!! It was so great to finally meet you and add you to my D-family. Staying connected is so important.. and until we can exchange that next hug, I plan to stay as connected as possible!

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  7. Oh man, Jenn, what a great post. This is what it's all about - breaking away the isolation we all too often feel. The online stuff we do helps, but when we can take it to the next level and connect in person - there's nothing like it.

    And being able to cross off an assignment from your doctor while you're at it? That's pretty cool, too. :-)

    Thanks for coming and helping make the UnConference what it was, Jenn!

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    1. So very true. Isolation is almost inevitable in all areas, but in the world of Diabetes, being able to break out of it is so very important. Even the best doctor's know that, which is why they assign hugs from good people, like yourself. :-)

      Thanks for all you did, to make my first diabetes conference a wonderful experience.

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  8. This is a great post Jenn! It was wonderful to see you again and I look forward to NEXT YEAR!!! (Is it March yet???) Like you, I was pleased to have such a great opportunity close enough to home that I didn't have to fly (eek!) and it wasn't a 12 hour day just to get there. Hugs to you.

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    1. Right?! I already have March 2016 set aside for next year!! I can't wait. We'll have to say a special toast for the closeness of it! *hugs*

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