What North of Normal Really Means

When I was first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, I felt like my world had been flipped upside down. It wasn’t just about learning how to count carbs or take insulin. It was deeper than that. It was about accepting that my life was going to look different than I thought—and figuring out how to still win despite that.

That’s where “North of Normal” came from.

At first, it was just something my mom and I would say to describe how different life felt. But over time, it became something more—it became a mindset, a way of life. It was about refusing to let my circumstances define my potential. It helped me redefine and elevate my idea of  "normal." And it stuck with me long after I got used to managing Type 1.

The truth is, we all face something that takes us north of normal. For me, it started with diabetes. But then came loss, grief, stress, pressure, and growing up way faster than I wanted to. And I know I’m not the only one. Life throws unexpected things at all of us. We all have stuff that knocks us off the “normal” path. But we get to decide if we’ll let it stop us—or if we’ll find a way to grow through it.

Living North of Normal doesn’t mean pretending things aren’t hard. It means being honest about the challenge—and choosing to rise anyway. It means making decisions that build your strength, even when they’re inconvenient. It means taking ownership of your life when it would be easier to blame your circumstances.

I wrote my book because I didn’t see anything out there that really captured what it’s like to live through this and come out stronger. I didn’t want to write a clinical manual. I wanted to write something real—something I wish I had when I was 11 years old, lying in a hospital bed, wondering why this happened to me.

This site, this brand, this mindset—it’s not just for diabetics. It’s for anyone who’s been through something that changed them. It’s for the people who are trying to stay focused when life gets overwhelming. It’s for the people who feel like no one really understands what they’re carrying.

If that’s you—I see you. You’re not alone.

North of Normal isn’t just something that happens to you. It’s a choice you make in how you respond. It’s your decision to rise when it would be easier to give up. To learn how to improve when you could easily choose to “tune out”. To keep improving, even if no one’s watching.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about refusing to settle for average when you’re capable of more. And you are capable of way more than you think.

North of Normal is redefining NORMAL and redefining Type 1 so you can be more resilient, healthier, fitter, and live a bigger life.

– Wyatt