We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Margaret Clegg a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Margaret, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2001 after many years of being ill. While I was meeting with the gastroenterologist, my mom mentioned that my father also had Celiac Disease. Which was a shock to me, because he never talked about it, nor followed a gluten free diet.
While I was learning about the seriousness of Celiac Disease and the gluten free diet, I encouraged my dad to take better care of his health. I convinced him to join me at a local Celiac Disease support group. The people in that group were so wonderful and caring.
Through that group, I became involved in organizing a gluten free expo and a children’s camp for those who had Celiac Disease. The joy on a child’s face when they’re able to safely eat anything without asking questions is priceless.
Later, I started my own blog and shared information on social media channels, such as Facebook and Instagram. One time I spoke on the phone with a parent who felt lost in helping their child who was newly diagnosed. She said after talking to me she felt that she could breath again, that she felt hope that she could care for her child, and her child could thrive on a gluten free diet.
That’s my purpose. To provide hope, joy, and a sense of belonging for those who live with Celiac Disease.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the owner and author of the website MI Gluten Free Gal. (MI stands for Michigan, where I live.) On my website you’ll find gluten free recipes, restaurant reviews that serve gluten free options, and general information and research about living with Celiac Disease.
When I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease over 20 years ago, there were volunteers who helped me navigate the gluten free diet and learn to advocate for myself. Through my website and social media, I hope to pay that kindness forward.
I still promote the gluten free kids camp I helped with many years ago. It is my hope that more kids can enjoy a camp experience, despite their dietary restrictions.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As far as being a Celiac Disease advocate and blogger, one of the most important qualities is to remember your mission. The internet is full of other people who also live with this disease and share content about it. It’s easy to get swayed by statistics – number of followers, social media shares, etc. But only you can tell your own story. Be true to yourself.
Secondly, the way you share information is just as important as the information itself. The internet and social media are rife with those who grow their content via fearmongering and condescension. People who feel unwell are already anxious. Don’t manipulate people’s emotions for personal gain. I think it’s more important to be a person of integrity. People who see your authenticity will be faithful followers and friends.
Lastly, be a lifelong learner and be willing to be change when presented with better evidence. In my situation, medicine is constantly evolving and changing. Therefore I make sure to listen to webinars with physicians and other Celiac Disease non-profits. If you want to be an expert in something, go to conferences. Read books. Doing so shows an investment not only in your own knowlege, but also in your followers.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
There’s a saying that to make money you need to spend money. That’s always something that I’ve struggled with, because I’m a “do more with less” kind of gal.
However, in the past 12 months I hired someone to rebuild and update my website. It looks amazing, and more importantly it’s more user friendly. It’s pushed me to learn how to update my content in a way that’s better for my followers as well. As a result, my website traffic has more than doubled in under a year. While it’s defintely exciting to know that I’m growing my reach, I remind myself that this equals more people that I’m able to help.
All of this has helped me refine my goals, and sparked a desire to be more connected to those who read my content. Not just connected online, but in person as well. I hope to start planning meet-ups around the state when time permits.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://miglutenfreegal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miglutenfreegal
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miglutenfreegal
