Why I Blog.

If there’s one thing National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) has taught me, it’s that I’m not a seven day a week blogger.  While I am still embracing the assignment to write each and every day, not all of the fruits of my keyboard are, in my opinion, post-worthy.  My goal with this blog is to disseminate meaningful information.  This may come in the form of news bits, interviews, the sharing of healthful, gluten-free recipes or honest accounts of my day-to-day struggles to achieve good blood sugar control.  Two weeks into National Blog Posting Month, I discovered that this goal did not coincide with the the ultimate goal of NaBloPoMo: 30 posts in 30 days.

At the beginning of National Blog Posting Month, I was inspired by the challenge.  I had things to say and ideas to share.  I felt accountable and was finally able to write some posts that I’d been mulling over (yet failing to pen) for weeks.

But then, I got badly glutenized and felt sick and exhausted and dejected for a week.  In addition to this, after World Diabetes Day I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by my diabetes life.  While I do enjoy educating people about my chronic conditions, I also enjoy, no, need a break every once in a while.

I’m not suggesting a break from my diabetes management — I will always do blood tests and take my insulin and measure my food and correct for high blood sugars and record this ever-changing assortment of numbers in my log book.  By this point, these basic elements of my personal diabetes management are routine.  Using a measuring cup instead of a proper serving spoon to dole out soup or rice or refried beans is just how we serve food in our house.  Bleeding a little and doing some math before each meal or snack is just how it’s done.  If I need to, I can sail through the day — and still take proper care of myself — without having to put much thought into it.

However, after 17 days of relentless blogging, I found that I was putting too much thought into this disease.  I felt inundated.  Diabetes and celiac are huge parts of my life but they aren’t the only parts of my life.  (And they definitely aren’t the most fun parts!)  I needed a break.  I needed a few days of: “Test, bolus and move on.  Minimal thought required.”  And I realized that I did not want to be blogging simply for the sake of blogging.

As I said, I want to disseminate meaningful information.  I want to talk because I have something to say, not because I feel obligated.  I want to inform and inspire by adding my thoughts and opinions to the diabetes and gluten-free online communities at large.  This may mean one post a week or five posts a week or three posts a week.  I don’t always have things to share.  But, when I do, I will share them.

This is why I blog.

And this is why I’ll proudly accept my failing grade in National Blog Posting Month.