I love life! And I love how life makes you think and evaluate your situation. I thank God each day that he created me as an optimist. I know everyone is not wired that way, so I really do consider this a blessing. Life can certainly throw you curve balls. However, I try each day to grow and improve as a person, and I have concluded outlook is tied to your outcome.

Much like anyone I have had some real curve balls thrown my way. Without boring you with too many details I will highlight the ones that have had the most impact. When I was 29, newly married and 8 months pregnant with my first baby, I lost my parents in a plane crash. I went on to have 3 miscarriages (although I am blessed with 4 beautiful, healthy boys!) and then when my oldest son David was 9 years old, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

The diagnosis of David’s type 1 diabetes has had a profound impact on my life. Certainly, the others did as well, but maybe this situation was different because this dealt with my son and his outlook relying on me. There is absolute truth when they say you would do anything for your child. I would have done anything to change shoes with him and have the burden of this disease fall on me rather than my son. Knowing I could not change the circumstances, I knew the importance of ensuring that he realized perspective. As I alluded to earlier, my optimism has gotten me through the toughest times in my life. I continue to do my best to instill or at least try to translate the importance of outlook to my kids. By no means am I belittling the impact of living with a chronic disease, diabetes transforms everyone effected. However, I believe it can transform your approach for better or worse.

Which leads me to where I am today. Since David’s diagnosis I have developed Dabs ® (direct result of an unmet need in his testing routine), started a business, grown a business, got my product on the shelves of several stores and still growing. All the while, meeting a new network of people that have had an overwhelming influence on me and my family. I’ve traveled and participated in conferences and events for causes that have great meaning to me and found a purpose that fulfills me to my core. The importance of giving back and making a difference in the lives of others has been the nucleus of lessons learned- our business proudly donates to diabetes research. Ultimately, in my life time I would like to see a cure for Type 1 Diabetes, and eradicate this horrible disease from the lives of so many affected. Point in case, if someone would have said to me years ago, I would be holding a patent on a product I developed, start a caused-based business, and have had the opportunity to speak from an inspirational perspective about my story, I would have looked at them like they were nuts!

There is a quote that I read almost daily, and it goes like this “Within every adversity is the seed of an equal or greater benefit. Within every problem is an opportunity. Even in the knocks of life we can find great gifts.” I believe it is my job as a mother to empower my children and give them the tools to be the best people they can be. To believe in themselves and have confidence. Overcoming adversity builds this confidence. Life has a funny way of working things out when your outlook is focused on the positive. This entire journey has re-enforced this lesson repeatedly.

This experience has also allowed me to realize that having a business is truly rewarding to me. It has given me the opportunity to find a real purpose for a cause and a product that I stand behind with great confidence. The funny thing is over the years, we have come to realize how useful Dabs are in varying situations outside of diabetes. From nail and makeup routines to cleaning household surfaces, to glasses lens cleaning, Dabs have proven to be an all-around great addition to our lives. We are beginning to embark on the next chapter in the book of Dabs ® and we hope you come along for the ride! I will leave you with this quote:

I am an optimist.
It does not seem too much use being anything else.

Winston Churchill