Feeling Lucky?
Lucky is not a word I use often to describe living with AGS. To be honest, luck comes sparingly when you’re as limited as we are. But when we were in California last week at Natural Products Expo West, we discovered luck at every turn. Dairy-free cream cheese that actually tastes like cream cheese? YES! Safe sour cream that could make even the beefiest, cheesiest nachos jealous? HELL YES! A room full of people willing to listen to the challenges we face living with AGS? Believe it or not, YES to that, too! I won’t pretend that everyone was open to hearing us share our story. But so many were, and we connected with more people than I can count who listened to us to share why their safe and delicious products matter so much to us. And every time we walked away leaving someone in awe of how we’re forced to live, I couldn’t help but feel a little lucky.
Lucky that people are listening.
Lucky that awareness is growing.
Lucky that enormous improvements have been made in the quality of mammal-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free products over the last decade.
Most of my life, I’ve tried to prepare myself for the worst as if it’s going to soften the blow when bad news actually comes. To paraphrase my therapist who is trying really hard to help me break this habit - it doesn’t actually work. Preparing yourself for the worst only prevents you from anticipating the good that might actually be awaiting you. So maybe this is the perfect time to practice positivity. Maybe the next trip to the grocery store will be the one where you find a safe dessert that doesn't leave you pining for chocolate lava cake (have you met Hail Merry? Oatly ice cream? Evolved Chocolate?). Or maybe your next visit to Ulta will be the one where you discover your favorite moisturizer is actually safe (Um, hello…CeraVe Moisturizing Cream is vegan?!).
Are we lucky to live with AGS? No, of course not. But in the words of Thomas Jefferson, “I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” Regardless of the challenges and roadblocks, Candice and I commit to continuing to seek out the safest and most delicious products to share with you…so maybe we can better all of our luck. One chocolate bar at a time.
