Gluten-Free Simplicity

Way #29: Accept the Basic Nature of those Gluten-Related Needs and Symptoms and Make Way Through the Societal Fog Toward Gluten-Free Simplicity.

  Let us try to think of a situation where Social Pressures kept us from doing what we needed to do regarding our Very Real Gluten-Related Issues or Symptoms. 

 What was it like?  Probably like many people — like me too, there are often regrets to deal with later due to earlier actions that were taken more in the interest of social norms than self.

I am Beautifully Unique like a Precious Orange Flower (c.2008, WTB)

  Here are a few ideas that might help one move more smoothly through these situations:

1. Develop ways of quickly recognizing Gluten-Related Needs in given situations.
2. Learn to rapidly recognize Gluten-Related Symptoms as soon as possible.
3. Design and modify (as needed) a positive Gluten-Exposure prevention and recovery plan that works for you.
4. Try to avoid situations where we are likely to be exposed to Gluten yet there is no foreseeable remedy or recovery plan.
5. Actively learn from symptoms and situations that could not be avoided this time so as to try and prevent similar problems next time.
6. Without seeming obsessed, it might help to sometimes discuss ones Gluten-Exposure Symptoms with those close to us as they occur.  This can be a good way of enlisting helpful allies in this struggle while also learning learning why or why not to burden others with such delicate information.
7. Be brave enough to politely excuse One’s self in social situations when we need some Gluten-Recovery Time and/or Space
8. When feeling really down in general about the whole Gluten thing try to recognize if any of this stuff is due to wrongfully assumed moral issues (i.e., ”I deserve this suffering because I was a disobedient child”….) and dismiss it because there is no connection between morality and why one person has Gluten-Related Problems while another does not.
9. Avoid blaming other people for our Gluten-Related problems.
10. Practice getting support for Gluten-Related issues without broadcasting to the world about it.

  Surely there are other things one can try and do to firm up our skills and abilities for taking care of our Gluten-Related needs.  Peer pressure and even simple glances or noises from unknown but present strangers can often keep many of us from doing what we need to do in order to stay healthy.   And it is really just not worth it.  It is not worth being sick for a day just because one was too shy to ask the clerk at Burger King to please serve me my Whopper without a bun.  After all, their slogan used to be, “Have it your way!”

  We can each probably think of situations where we sacrificed our own good for others.  And I am all for that.  There are also situations where One’s need to keep confidential their health-related needs is important (such as in work situations where there is outright fear and/or hatred of the “sick”, or simply discrimination based on perceived health issues at school, work, commerce, or socially).  This is very unfortunate.  But also, unfortunately true in our world today. 

  It is a simple case of 5 Natures: 

1. Naturehas given us Celiac Disease.
2. It is Natural for other insecure human beings to fear illness in other human beings; while
3. Hatred, Prejudice, Discrimination, and Opression of persons with Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity may be common, but it is NOT  Natural.
4. As we cope, survive, and develop it is our Natureto actively (or passively) flush away cruel and foolish pressures in order to include and accommodate environmental stimuli which are much more conducive to our Natural ultimate goal of thriving.

  Thus, if it is a case of avoiding a small amount of perceived/assumed (i.e., possibly not even real) social scrutiny from a stranger or to; versus avoiding Gluten-Exposure – I think I should choose my physical and mental health over the former.

  Perfectly natural, don’t ya think?

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