Eighteen months ago, I started insulin pump therapy that changed my life in so many positive ways.  It gave me the freedom and flexibility to let me live my life well.  I could play sports, travel, and do so many other things with the insulin pump therapy.  It has been the best help I have received to let me live my life to its fullest. 

I’m not the only one who has benefited from the insulin pump.  I met a determined and inspirational woman named Chloe Steepe who is also on the insulin pump.  Chloe was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of nineteen.  She is very active in hiking, biking, and other recreational activities.  The diagnosis was understandably a big blow to her.  Chloe quickly discovered that there were a lot of support groups for kids and adults living with diabetes, but none for young adults.  After some encouragement, she decided to do something about it and started a non-profit organization called “Connected in Motion” (www.connectedinmotion.ca).  Connected in Motion brings together people who are living well with diabetes through sports and recreation. 

Chloe’s organization held a unique event called “Slipstream,” which I attended.  It was an outdoor weekend for people living with insulin dependent diabetes.  Can you imagine going to camp in your forties?  It was great!  We were all connected not only through our diabetes, but also through our interest in physical activities.  Chloe and her group were very welcoming and I felt part of a great, encouraging environment. 

Among the many fantastic people there, was Carlos, at the event this past January.  Carlos is into bike racing and managed to convince me to participate in a 35km bike race.  Now, I’ve done a few marathons, but I wasn’t exactly in top shape to do a bike race.  I signed up anyway, figuring I had time before the April race.  Why not, right? 

As life has a way of doing, I got busy with work and other things, and the race got pushed to the backburner of my priorities.  I realized three weeks out that if I was going to participate in the race, I needed to get myself ready.  At that point, I had done zero training.  Two weeks out I managed to borrow a bike from my friend Chris Jarvis, and I got a few runs in.  I knew I wasn’t going to be prepared the way I should have been. 

Finally, the day of the race came, and people with their spandex and bikes were ready to compete.  Chloe’s group was there.  Boy, was I unprepared!  This wasn’t just a regular 35km bike race; it was an off-roading race, complete with farm fields, mud, gravel, hills, and everything else but nice smooth pavement.  Biker etiquette dictates calling out “on the left” when you want to pass someone.  Let’s just say I heard “on the left” more times than I could count and was getting passed by all day until there wasn’t very many people left to pass me.  In fact, I was struggling to even finish the race.  It was challenging and grueling; I seriously didn’t think I would be able to finish.  That’s when Chloe stepped in and with her kindness helped me get up a big hill and finish the race.    I sure didn’t get first place, but I finished 35 km and enjoyed a great day with everyone, and from that experience I learned a lot. 

That brings me to the lessons I learned:

1.       Be prepared.  I was obviously not prepared for the bike race and struggled just to finish it.  You need to do your homework for anything you want to do in life.  Time and energy need to be invested toward a goal if you want to succeed.  I’ve always loved this quote:  we are what we repeatedly do. 

2.       Accept help.  If I was going to finish that race, I knew I would have to accept help.  Chris Jarvis let me borrow his bike which I used to participate in the race.  My wife drove me around that day and was supportive of my participation in the event.  Chloe gave me lots of training tips and helped me finish the race.  Carlos sent out e-mails preparing us for the race.  We all have something to contribute to each other, so accept the help.

3.       Look for the lesson.  Every single day we are confronted with choices.  When I was two weeks away from the race and realized I was not in ideal shape, I could’ve just stayed home.  Instead, I got off the couch and participated in the 35km bike race.  When I was tired, sore, and stuck in the mud, I could have given up right then and there.  But, with Chloe’s help and little determination, I finished the race.  At the end of the day I realized that the race was a learning experience and an opportunity to participate in a great event with fantastic people.  That’s what is important. 

If you believe someone would enjoy and benefit from this post, please share it. Just click on the + Share button and you will see lots of options for sharing it with friends including email, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Thanks!

Shawn Shepheard has worked extensively in the career development field, including recruitment, customer service, career management and leadership training. He is also a celebrated inspirational speaker and was named the 2008 Volunteer of the year from the Canadian Diabetes Association.