Diabetic Recipes
kirkshoe
What types of spiritual practices or mental exercises do you use to help you cope with diabetes? For me, I like to mix things up and do whatever feels right at the time. Typically I use martial arts, exercise or various "mental exercises" like praying, meditation and reading spiritual books. I also love to listen to a variety of music and sit and relax around fires. This weekend will have me trying something that I have never attempted before but something that I have always been interested and curious about - a Native American sweat lodge.
I am curious about some of the things that may come up during my experience. I am also wondering how my diabetes will show itself during the session. Whatever the case, I know it will be profound and perhaps it will help me come to be at a more peaceful place with my body and my disease.
I feel having a strong mental side is crucial to helping one endure the struggles that come with living with diabetes. I know, for me anyway, that since becoming diabetic my spiritual side has opened up immensely. As I write this, I can recall on certain experiences I've had. Some of my most divine times were had on a trip with one of my closest friends last year. Our journey took us through Yellowstone and many of the beautiful states surrounding it. We packed up his car with gear and miscellaneous goods that we used on the road. We had CDs that we listened to the whole time that were excellent for captivating the experience. We drove through mountains, forests, and we endured many marvelous things. We camped in his car and shared some extremely raw moments. We even spent the night in the "badlands" of South Dakota where I am positive it is in an entire different realm than the rest of the universe.
Whatever the case is in what ways has diabetes affected your spiritual side? Have you noticed differences in the way you deal with things mentally? What does it all mean to you? Are you a spiritual person or has getting diabetes not affected your spirituality in any way?
Thanks for your time and thoughts. -Andy
Take extra sugar supply in the lodge with you. You'll sweat out a lot of impurities but also a lot of things u might be needing. As for my spiritualness, I changed my mind about a lot of things after my diagnosises. I was diagnosed with schizoaffective/bipolar disorder and the diabetes is a direct result of the meds i have to be on for it. Diabetes is not my biggest problem but rather blame a "God" for the things that have gone wrong with me and my life, I'd much rather let it be a chance kinda thing. I believe in time/space as the only eternal & it never changes. I believe that people are spirits and came to this planet and it let them inhabit it. When you die there is no "heaven" just space and time and you'll be free to travel it where & when ever you like. I love sweat lodges because you can meditate in there so much better than in a lot of other places and you can even astrally project better. But that's my opinion. You're more than welcome to your own. Shane
Thank you very much spinnell1 for your comment to my post. I think what you wrote is very interesting. As for the sweat this weekend it was awesome man. My sugar held up pretty good and things went very smoothly. Thanks again Shane. Talk to ya soon. -Andy
Diagnosis was a call to refocus on my Self, but in doing so, I found myself placed in situations where my experiences were needed to help others. I've been called a "role model" for doing my best to make lemonade of lemons, bringing me closer to the understanding that we all "do what we have to" to survive and thrive.
But I've also come to view My Life (or Your Life, or The-Idiot-Down-the-Block's Life) as an ancient Hero Tale, wherein there are many stories in which The Hero must triumph over a Challenge. In each story in the cycle, the Hero is roused from complacency by A Challenge, must travel to The Depths of His Soul and test The Limits of His Endurance, and by passing through the Crucible, his mettle is tested and forged and strengthened. He meets The Challenge and arises from it stronger and wiser and better able to rule his people, minister to his people, or just... "live happily ever after"... until the next Challenge.
Heroes meet the Challenges, go through the depths, and triumph over them... again and again and again... or, finally, they die trying. This is life. Everyman's life. And every man's (or woman's) life.
Coming back to the topic, I think the more that we are placed in situations where we are able to help others *because of* the challenges we have had to meet in our own lives, the more we come to believe that He Who Maketh Peace in the High Heavens (or however you might refer to the Deity or Deities of your choosing) sends us through life paths that prepare us to meet these challenges, and sends us challenges to prepare us to better serve others. Whether you call this "being a Good Steward" or "being an angel in training" or "improving your karma" (or something else) is not as important as the realities these phrases represent.
For without deliberately choosing to be so, we ARE the Heroes, the Good Stewards, the Angels-in-Training, the menschen, the role models, for everyone whose paths we cross -- and it is that awareness that gives us the strength to meet each Challenge, to Serve as we are called, and to be at peace with doing what we need to do to survive and thrive.
WOW..extremely thoughtful, precise, and insightful response tmana. It sounds like you are extremely knowledgeable/aware of your spirituality and your feelings. I really appreciate your thought provoking outlook. ....As for me and this past weekend's experience...it went very well and it was exactly what I was needing. I had a great experience. Thanks again. Here's to awareness and heroes :) -Andy