Let’s say you made a pact with your friend that you would each go to the gym three times this week. Things got busy (the cat swallowed a washcloth and had to go to the vet, and there may or may not have been a small fire in your garage), and you went zero times. You’re dreading the phone call where you must report that you didn’t quite make it, but as soon as you say hello, your friend blurts out, “Ack! Stuff came up and I didn’t go at all!” What feeling comes up for you when you hear her admission? For many of us, the feeling is one of relief. We feel just a little bit less bad when we find out we’re not the only ones who didn’t reach our goal because we know that someone else had trouble too. The connection around a shared experience—whether it is struggle or triumph—is a powerful one and should not be underestimated because 1) it alleviates guilt (which is a big time energy-zapper) and 2) it adds a valuable member to your support team with whom you can be accountable. Doing the accountability job yourself can be tricky, as opposed to having a supportive person who call you out on and help you with your stuff because they have been in that very same position. Working towards a goal with someone who is/has worked on or achieved that same goal can be incredibly encouraging because they know it can be tough, but they are living proof that you can do it. Or at the very least, they can walk beside you and say, “I feel that way too, and we can figure it out together.”

If this kind of support sounds appealing, please check out the upcoming drop-in group for young women ages 14-25 with T1D.