You Can Eat Somewhere Else

I never thought I would be kicked-out because of my health issues. Left-out? Sure. But not kicked-out.

Today, I was invited to attend a dinner, pictures, and prom with a group of friends. Whenever there is food being provided or created by someone other than my family, I have to ask questions because of my insulin resistance and low-carb, gluten-free diet. Politely, I requested to be included in some of the decision-making for the meal, and I was promptly told a decision had already been made, (mind you, this all took place in a group message via iPhone). I was confused, as I had read all of the messages in the group discussing the plans and none of them were pertaining to food. So I inquired what that food was. Pasta. The holy-grail of gluten. So I responded by saying that my health and dietary needs restricted me from being able to eat pasta, (I was hinting at, and about to ask if there was going to be something I could eat, or something small made on the side that I could eat). And what response am I given? "Well then you can eat somewhere else." (Excuse me, what? I was invited to be a part of your group, and then you indirectly tell me that I'm not welcome?) "We can't change our plans because of one person." (I *never* asked anyone to change plans). So I told them "okay, fine", and sarcastically "thanks for being considerate", and left the group.

Hours later, after calming down, I rejoined the group to discover that one of the group members explained that my date was fine to stay in the group, but that I was "unwelcome unless [I] could be apart of the GROUP and not get [my] feelings hurt because [they] couldn't accommodate me."
It's one thing if I told them I wasn't feeling pasta, or didn't like pasta, but I can't eat pasta, and many of the members of the group know that I am struggling with health issues. I was appalled. How can you invite someone into a group, not include them in any of the preparations, then when they have a legitimate problem, shut them out and tell them they aren't welcome, and get angry at them? Gee, thanks, I think I'd rather eat with a trash bag.

Needless to say, I won't be attending prom with that group of my 'friends'. Sure, I could have asked from the start what other menu items they would be having, but the end result probably would have been the same. It's a shame that there are people out there who are insensitive to others' differences. If they'd had special dietary/health needs and I told them to go somewhere else, and that they weren't welcome, they would've blown up and gotten furious. It's like telling a vegetarian that they have to eat meat or leave: Inconsiderate, insensitive, and uneducated.

The situation left me feeling upset, offended, left-out, unwelcome, insecure and many other things. If they could walk a mile in my shoes........ And here I sit. Trying to figure out who my real friends are. And for what? Because they weren't willing to pause for a second and ask me what they could do to make it so that I could eat with them. Because of food. Because of something they invited me to and then kicked me out of. Because of my health. Thanks guys, thanks a lot. It just makes it that much more difficult to live with this dietary lifestyle. And to think people wonder why individuals give up on eating healthy so easily... it's because even though everyone 'encourages' it, no-one will actually act upon and cater to it.

I hope for your sake, that you never are removed from, left-out of, or kicked-out of something because of your daily struggles, but I'm sure it'll happen eventually. Be kind and gracious. One day you'll be rewarded for your peaceful actions. One day, the friends I eat with will want to follow in my footsteps and learn more about my lifestyle. Today wasn't that day, but hopefully, it will be soon.

XOXO
Katelyn

Here Goes Nothing

I've been thinking about this blog and working on putting it together for about a month now, but I couldn't ever think of what my first blog post would be about. I honestly hate writing about myself in a biography-esque way, and I feel that I can't tackle specific topics until I've written a general post first, so here it is.

Essentially, I created this blog as a way to cope. I've had an incredibly difficult year-- from my boyfriend cheating on me, to my dog dying, to my parents wanting to move into separate homes, to all of my health issues... the list goes on and on, and it's been hard for me to cope and deal with all of these circumstances. It's always been said that writing is a good outlet for stress and struggle, and I figured that there are many other individuals out there experiencing similar struggles that I am. Rather than writing in a diary where no one will see my thoughts, I decided to make myself vulnerable and publish these thoughts with the hopes that someone, somewhere, someday, will learn and benefit from what I write.

I don't know just yet how often I will post, or what exactly I will post about. I'm kind of figuring this thing out as I go. So that's that. This blog's purpose is to help me, and hopefully others, overcome the hardships in life and realize that we aren't defined by our problems.

XOXO
Katelyn