February 22, 2011

disordered and deadly.

everyone has skeletons in their closet. well here is one of mine. 
i've binged. 
i've purged. 
i've starved. 
i've over exercised. 
i've wrestled with loving myself and my body. 
it's pretty sobering to see it written in black and white. 
but it's time we talk about it. 

this week is national eating disorder awareness week. the annual theme is, "it's time to talk about it." i happen to agree. it's time to talk about what eating disorders are and what they look like. eating disorders are black, white, short, tall, men, women, rich, poor, fat, and thin. 

eating disorders destroy lives and families. eating disorders kill people. in fact, eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness that exists. a recent study found that 60 percent of American women eat in "disordered ways" (psychologytoday.com). another 10 percent have a diagnosable eating disorders. to live with an eating disorder is not to truly live. 


i live without a scale. 
i take my focus of off food and on healthy living. 
i love myself and my body. 


i'm proud to announce that my alma mater {samford university} is participating in a candlelight vigil for eating disorder awareness. tomorrow {wednesday} night from 7-8 p.m. in reid chapel. locally, in birmingham, there is a renown eating disorder clinic that has proven to save lives {magnolia creek} that will be hosting the event. you can "light" a candle online to honor lives touched by eating disorders by going here.

for more information on eating disorders go here. or you can gain personal insight on eating disorders by visiting the blog of one of my best friends and sisters, elizabethann, at mourning restoration. 

If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.
Vincent Van Gogh




where there is love {of yourself and your body},
 there is art. 

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