365 Days a Year

Looking back on this past month I am happy that I was able to post more than just once or twice. Typically I let life get in the way during the ONE month a year that it is all about Celiac Awareness. However, raising awareness doesn’t begin and end with the month of May. It is 365 days a year!

Anybody who knows me knows that I am BIG on reflecting on the past and planning for the future. When I look back on the past five years it is crazy to think about what all I have done and accomplished because of this disease.

Flashing back to that day in Starbucks with my mom, she pointed to my mantra (Impact, Influence, Inspire) that I got tattooed on my wrist just months before my diagnosis. I remember her saying that this diagnosis and disease was my opportunity to live out my mantra. It may have been a minor moment, but really changed my perspective and view. It made me stop focusing on what the disease took away from me and start focusing on what it could give me. 

Since that day in Starbucks, and after I came to almost full terms with my diagnosis,  I have been raising awareness. This disease took a lot from me. There is no doubt about that! However, it has given me so much more in return. 

In the first five years of my life with Celiac Disease some of the big things I have done and accomplished are, volunteer at a camp for children with Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance,  created and started an initiative and support group at my Alma Mater, got to share my Celiac Story live on News 13 and help with the Gluten Free Expo in Asheville NC, published an article for NACA Campus Activities Programming, and last but not least connect with people all over the globe that are part of the Celiac Community. Not to mention people reaching  out all the time for their friends or themselves about diagnosis and gluten free living. 

When reflecting back on these experiences it is hard not to feel grateful for this disease, because again it gave me so much. 

Raising awareness is a way of life for me and is how I cope. It is how I answer the “why me” question and make sense of it all. Everywhere I go I try to educate people on how to be more inclusive of people with food allergies, as well as the importance behind “why” they should be inclusive. 

When I was first diagnosed I hated how people would smack a label on me, and I felt like this disease defined who I was in people’s eyes for the longest time. I had people misjudge me and make remarks regarding my gluten free life. Not going to lie I lost my cool a few times early on in my diagnosis, and honestly sometimes still do. Even though I still feel labeled to a degree, I am determined to prove that there is more to who I am. With most things in life sometimes you have to embrace what it throws your way. Sure this disease is part of my identity at this point and I would say I have came to terms with that. However, there are days, situations, and moments where I feel like it is all of who I am and there is never any rest from this part of my life.

If you have been following along you have seen me use the #NoChoice throughout this month. I never had a choice with this life, I never wanted to live a life like this, and if given the option I would have never chosen this life. Nothing makes me more irritated and upset when people assume that I woke up and decided to be gluten free, because it is a fad and trendy. A lot of Celiacs feel this way and it isn’t just me who feels like this. That is why we raise awareness and educate to the best of our abilities, because if we don’t then who will? 

There is never a day “off” or a “cheat day.” There is no way for me to choose not to live this life anymore, and there are days and moments when I really wish I did have a choice. I get tired and emotionally exhausted from having to worry, having to defend, having to constantly plan out every meal of everyday. This disease took my freedom away, but again it gave me so much more in return. It made me strong, independent, help me help people, have a different outlook on life, makes me unique and certainly memorable lol. Most importantly it makes me appreciate health. You never know how valuable it is until you are sick. I was sick for 20 years! I felt horrible for so long that I came to a point where I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with all the GI pain, exhaustion, crazy mood swings, brain fog etc. 

So if you, a friend, or relative have symptoms PLEASE ask your Doctor about it. Don’t go gluten free without getting tested for it first, that way you have accurate results and diagnosis. The Celiac Life is hard in many ways but it is not impossible. Plus, I believe the “Celiac Community” is THE BEST! Seriously, people all over the globe are doing great things and are happy to help you cope in any way you need. 

I hope you have all learned a little something new this May and have gotten a glimpse into the life of a Celiac, and are hopefully more aware. Make sure to mark your calendars to celebrate Celiac Awareness Day on September 13th!!
​
Always,