I'm a designer by profession, and as such, I'm a big believer in the power of things. Objects communicate, tell stories, collect meaning. A tangible thing in your hand feels real and substantial. Having said that, the web is also an amazing tool for meaningful communication, connection and comfort. The OC has changed my life in such a positive way. Regardless of being a virtual tool, the insight, inspiration, comfort, support and realization that I am not alone with diabetes has utterly improved my life.
For me, the exercise I did a couple of months ago to commemorate my 20th anniversary of living with diabetes, was very important. I don't think it would have had as much meaning if I had just done it privately on my own. 20 things I know about diabetes, really helped me to move through a milestone in a way that surprised and comforted me deeply. The format, the simplicity and the "safety" of doing the exercise as a blog within a community of people who have been so supportive and also, "get it", made the doing of it possible. Once done, I felt better. But the designer in me wanted something to touch and hold and feel, so I decided to make a small book out of the blog. I had the original files I used to make the posts, printed them out (with the help of a friend more experienced in book layout and production than I) and then took it to a local book bindery to have 10 copies made. They arrived a couple of days ago and I'm so excited. There is something so cool about being able to hold the exercise, done on the web, in my hands. I'm giving them to my doctor, family and the friends who have made the most difference in my journey with diabetes. And that feels great too, to give them something tangible as a thank you for all that they have done for me.
I think that making something tangible from all of this stuff we deal with around diabetes, can be very helpful. In reading the comments on Scott's recent post operating under pressure, there was a comment by Minnesota Nice that I thought was brilliant. She is writing down every positive thing she does around diabetes, and for each "thing" she takes a lego block and adds it to a structure of lego's she is building. By doing this, she sees her progress, she notes her efforts and success', she makes her work and dedication tangible. I think this is fabulous. Once she goes through all the lego's she has, she takes a picture of the creation, and then starts again. Boy would I love to see those pictures (sounds like a wonderful book to me)! Brilliant!
The point is, making something real out of all this can be very good (#7 diabetes is a great source for creativity). A blog is real but you can't touch it. It may be enough and that's terrific. Taking it further into another form, can be fun too. Whether it's publishing an iPhoto book of images that mean something around diabetes, or publishing your blog using a program like blog binders, or painting a painting or building lego towers, it really doesn't matter what form it takes. It can be affordable, creative and personal, shared or not. I'm just saying that making my 20 things blog into a tangible, touchable book, has made it that much more meaningful to me and others.
I love this idea of making it tangible. So much of our health depends on the most minute, half-thought decisions: eat the chips I grabbed reflexively off the buffet table or throw them out? go upstairs and get my meter, or just count the carbs and promise myself I'll test later?
Your book looks beautiful. Someday I'll scan in a series of photographs I did relating to my diabetes and post them.
Posted by: art-sweet | July 16, 2006 at 11:24 AM
That is GREAT!!!! I LOVE it!!
I too was just amazed at the great idea that Minnesota Nice had with the legos - and like you say - what a wonderful book that would make!
I didn't know that there were services out there such as blog binders. I think that is a really really neat thing to do.
I have been personally touched by so many of your blog entries - I just love reading any updates you post. And yes, as art-sweet says, they look beautiful. If you ever run off more than the 10 you did initially, I would be interested in buying one from you.
And art-sweet - I think we would all love to see those photos - you are a great photographer!
Posted by: Scott K. Johnson | July 16, 2006 at 04:50 PM
Holy Cow!
I honestly don't know how I've missed your blog for so long. I've clearly been missing out on some really great stuff.
Your project sounds great, is very inspiring, and looks beautiful. I read through the 20 things and each and everyone of them hit very close to home (of the lump-in-the-throat variety). And like Scott mentioned, if you ever think about doing a re-print, I'd be interested in purchasing a copy in a heart-beat.
I look forward to reading more of your blog (both future posts and trolling through your archives).
Thank you, thank you.
Posted by: Kevin | July 17, 2006 at 02:05 PM
What a terrific idea! You've definitely sparked a huge brainstorming session for me.
And as Scott already has said, I would love to purchase myself an autographed copy of your 20 Things book.
Bravo!
Posted by: Kerri. | July 17, 2006 at 02:13 PM
Wow! Thank you all so much for your kind words. This has been such a great process and project, and your wonderful comments have made it even better! I am so grateful.
I'm also very touched that you are interested in getting a copy of Aim for Grace. I had these books custom made so let me see what it would cost to have a few more made (they are digitally printed and bound). In the meantime, please know how much it means to me that you are interested in having one.
I really do think creativity can be such a healing process. I'm excited to see what Kerri comes up with and I too would love to see art-sweet's photos as well as Minnesota Nice's lego structures. Maybe there is some kind of collective repository for all the stuff people come up with to live together (a group on flickr?) Or some kind of open source, shared project like on www.learningtoloveyoumore.com. What I love about this site is that the "projects" are shared, same "assignment" with lot's of different solutions for those who choose to participate. Imagine if we did something like "make a collage of how diabetes feels today". Boy would I love to see what comes from that!
Regardless, a big thanks to you all. You all make this so much better!
Posted by: birdie | July 18, 2006 at 02:09 PM