Tabitha Brown's story is one of joy, faith, and resilience. Her ability to maintain a positive outlook, even amidst challenges, inspires many. She embodies confidence, not fearing the unknown, but trusting in her capabilities and the process of learning and growing. As Brown says, "We’re still alive, so that means we have more work to do. We’re still growing; there’s still more to learn about myself. We are all changing every single day. What I liked yesterday, I might not like tomorrow. So, as I’m always changing, I feel like I owe it to myself to try new things."
The "I Did a New Thing!" Challenge
Years ago, Tabitha Brown embarked on a personal 30-day challenge called "I Did a New Thing!" The premise was simple: each day, she would try something she had never done before. These ranged from small acts, like trying a new food, to more significant steps, like speaking to someone new or engaging in a different activity. At times, she confronted her fears head-on, such as having a difficult conversation or getting a mammogram.
Brown decided to take a leap of faith and watch God open up a new lane for her, she shares her own stories and those of others, alongside gentle guidance and encouragement to create these incredible changes for yourself and see what good can come from them. Whether that means having hard conversations trying for a promotion, simply wearing something different, or doing something kind for someone else. Brown presents a new approach: Try one new thing every single day for thirty days. According to Brown, you don’t have to wait until Monday or the beginning of a new month or year to get started. There’s no set time and place or any extra preparation required. All you have to do is show up for yourself, and Brown inspires us to do that daily.
A Vegan Challenge for Healing
Among the "new things" Brown tried was a vegan challenge. For nearly a year, she had been struggling with illness and was desperately seeking healing. In "I Did a New Thing," she shares her experiences and those of others, offering guidance and encouragement to create positive changes.
"I started on this challenge journey back in 2014, to try new things and to see how it would make me feel," Tabitha Brown explains. "When I first started doing the challenge, I realized I wasn’t my completely free self. Even though I was in search of myself, I was still afraid to be completely my full self."
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The 30-Day Vegan challenge was a turning point. "During that time, I had nothing else to lose," she recalls. "I had tried everything the doctors had prescribed me, including medication. So I thought to myself, I deserve at least 30 days to give myself a try and see if this will heal me." The vegan diet healed and changed her life in profound ways.
Recognizing Healing and Addressing Fear
Brown emphasizes the importance of personal growth and recognizing one's own healing. She recounts an experience during the "I Do The New Thing" challenge when a mammogram revealed a mass and said, “Oh, my God, what does that mean?”
The old Tabitha would’ve freaked out. When they found it, I said, “Oh, my God, what does that mean?” The old me would have gone online to research and stressed myself out completely. But in this season of my life, I realized I was waiting to be checked by a professional because I have been through sickness, and it’s triggering for me. I had to tell myself, “You’ve done all this work on yourself. Don’t allow this moment to create all these thoughts in your head. And we don’t even know what it is yet.” Thankfully, after going back and getting the biopsy, it proved to be nothing. Fear is natural, but I also addressed it.
Thankfully, a biopsy revealed it was nothing. This experience highlighted her growth and ability to address fear, rather than succumbing to it.
Embracing Change and Continued Growth
Brown believes that comfort can hinder personal challenges. "Sometimes when we are comfortable in life, we want to kind of stick to what we know. We don’t tend to challenge ourselves."
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She emphasizes the importance of continuous growth and learning. "We’re still alive, so that means we have more work to do. We’re still growing; there’s still more to learn about myself. We are all changing every single day. What I liked yesterday, I might not like tomorrow. So, as I’m always changing, I feel like I owe it to myself to try new things. No matter how successful I am, there’s still more to come."
Harnessing Inner Childlike Energy
Brown also speaks about the importance of harnessing our inner child as adults. I think there’s sometimes we have to do a little self-reflecting and go back to before the world or adults got into our minds to instill fear and doubt, which is harnessing our childlike energy. To try something new, you deserve that. You deserve 30 days to give yourself an opportunity to grow even more and figure out what you don’t like and what you’re willing to give yourself.
Recent Challenges and Future Plans
Recently, Brown has been dealing with hip and back problems, prompting her to focus on activities that promote well-being. "I recently had problems with my hip and back, so I’m trying to get better. I’m trying to do more things that are going to make me feel well but also open up my horizons, like hosting and traveling to places I’ve never been before."
She also looks forward to new experiences, such as traveling and exploring new styles. "I visited Puerto Rico this month which was super exciting. I’m going to wear my hair (Donna) in different ways as well as openly talking about perimenopause. Also, I’ll be working out more this year."
Lessons from Diabetes Digital Podcast
While Tabitha Brown's journey is unique, insights from the Diabetes Digital Podcast offer valuable perspectives on health, wellness, and mindful living, which can complement her approach. The podcast addresses various aspects of health, including nutrition, movement, and mental well-being, providing practical guidance for sustainable habits.
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Weight-Inclusive Approach
The podcast emphasizes a weight-inclusive, HAES (Health at Every Size)-aligned, and intuitive eating approach. This perspective challenges the traditional "calories in, calories out" mentality, recognizing that bodies are not simply math equations. Instead, it promotes body respect and appreciation across cultures.
Mindful Eating and Blood Sugar Management
Several episodes focus on mindful eating and blood sugar management. Topics include:
- The impact of late-night dinners: Exploring how timing affects sleep, digestion, and blood sugar.
- Alcohol and diabetes: Providing safer drinking strategies and debunking common myths.
- The role of cinnamon: Examining the research on cinnamon and blood sugar and how to use it effectively.
- Sugar consumption: Addressing myths about sugar and offering mindful ways to enjoy sweet foods.
The Importance of Movement
The podcast highlights the importance of movement for blood sugar regulation and overall health. It provides practical tips for incorporating movement into daily life, even for those who dislike the gym. Small shifts, like walking after dinner or stretching during screen time, can significantly impact energy, insulin sensitivity, and well-being.
Addressing Food-Related Concerns
The podcast also tackles common concerns related to food and health:
- Why you feel tired after eating: Exploring the reasons behind post-meal fatigue and offering tips to maintain steady energy levels.
- Protein intake: Providing practical goals for protein intake and explaining the importance of distribution.
- Balanced plant-based meals: Offering tips for creating balanced vegetarian meals that support blood sugar and energy levels.
- Tracking food without focusing on weight loss: Reframing tracking as a tool for awareness and building intuition around food choices.
Travel and Blood Sugar
The podcast offers advice for navigating travel while managing blood sugar, including tips for long periods of sitting, skipped meals, and unexpected events.