Lauren Bersaglio over at expos(ED) was kind enough to ask me to be a guest blogger. You can find the post, entitled "Fake It 'Til You Make It" on her blog. I hope you'll explore the concept and keep fighting. :)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Dear Readers, You're Not Alone
Now that National Eating Disorder Awareness Week has come to a close, there is a letter I'd like to share. It's a Thank You letter written by me... to all of you.
Dear readers,
Whether you are in the depths of despair, chugging along in recovery, maintaining new health and wellness, are a fellow activist, a worried parent, or a concerned friend or significant other, THANK YOU for coming here. Thank you for reading and listening. Thank you for recognizing that an eating disorder is not something of which to be ashamed, but something that requires help and support, like many other things in life. Thank you for trying, day to day.
You are not alone.
I'm on the other side of this screen, sending out positive energy and thoughts to everyone who needs them most. And out there are hundreds of other girls, boys, men, and women who are taking this journey with you. Eating Disorders feel lonely. They isolate you. They push others away. They make you feel like there's no one but you and the disease. It's simply not true. For every pair of eyes reading these words, there are dozens of others out there trying to win the same fight.
Keep your chin up, even when it feels like your head is being pushed under water.
Take one day at a time - there is no other way to do recovery.
The eating disorder might be your reality - but you can change your reality.
YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR REALITY.
Some people don't know that. Some people realize it too late. Some people don't understand the concept.
It's true. You can change your reality. It doesn't have to be this way.
And you can start today.
With love, encouragement, and understanding,
Dear readers,
Whether you are in the depths of despair, chugging along in recovery, maintaining new health and wellness, are a fellow activist, a worried parent, or a concerned friend or significant other, THANK YOU for coming here. Thank you for reading and listening. Thank you for recognizing that an eating disorder is not something of which to be ashamed, but something that requires help and support, like many other things in life. Thank you for trying, day to day.
You are not alone.
I'm on the other side of this screen, sending out positive energy and thoughts to everyone who needs them most. And out there are hundreds of other girls, boys, men, and women who are taking this journey with you. Eating Disorders feel lonely. They isolate you. They push others away. They make you feel like there's no one but you and the disease. It's simply not true. For every pair of eyes reading these words, there are dozens of others out there trying to win the same fight.
Keep your chin up, even when it feels like your head is being pushed under water.
Take one day at a time - there is no other way to do recovery.
The eating disorder might be your reality - but you can change your reality.
YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR REALITY.
Some people don't know that. Some people realize it too late. Some people don't understand the concept.
It's true. You can change your reality. It doesn't have to be this way.
And you can start today.
With love, encouragement, and understanding,
Friday, February 25, 2011
Possible Today and Every Day
I posted this for the first time in October of 2007. It was one of the first things I wrote on this now popular blog. I called it "Possible."
Consider it a mantra, a proclamation, or just...hope.
Recovery is possible.
It's not a guarantee. It's a possibility. It's not simple. It is difficult and sometimes seems impossible. It's not a one-step process. It's a multi-step process complete with twists and turns and bending roads...and roads you didn't even know were there. It's not the same for everyone. It's not always a happy process. It's not always a sad process. It IS empowering. It's not about pleasing other people. It is not about them. It's about YOU. It's not about perfection. It IS about emotion. It IS about honesty. It IS about self-discovery and self-affirmation. It's not about what you don't have. It's about using what you've got. It's not about hiding. It's about finding and displaying. It's not a quick-fix. It's a lifelong plan set into motion by truth and nurturing and self-love. It's not about external factors or environment. It IS about what's within. It is not crazy. It IS real.
Recovery is possible.
Consider it a mantra, a proclamation, or just...hope.
Recovery is possible.
It's not a guarantee. It's a possibility. It's not simple. It is difficult and sometimes seems impossible. It's not a one-step process. It's a multi-step process complete with twists and turns and bending roads...and roads you didn't even know were there. It's not the same for everyone. It's not always a happy process. It's not always a sad process. It IS empowering. It's not about pleasing other people. It is not about them. It's about YOU. It's not about perfection. It IS about emotion. It IS about honesty. It IS about self-discovery and self-affirmation. It's not about what you don't have. It's about using what you've got. It's not about hiding. It's about finding and displaying. It's not a quick-fix. It's a lifelong plan set into motion by truth and nurturing and self-love. It's not about external factors or environment. It IS about what's within. It is not crazy. It IS real.
Recovery is possible.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Voices Unite!
Eating Disorder Awareness Week is almost over! What have you done for the cause?
It doesn't have to be something BIG.
If you wear an awareness ribbon, bracelet, or shirt, you are supporting the cause. By facilitating discussion over these items, you are spreading the word.
By telling your story, sharing your desire to help, or providing resources to those in need you are doing a great service.
If you are simply reading and re-posting important recovery related info, you are doing a great job of keeping the heart of ED Awareness Week beating strong!
Don't stop now. There are still 3 days left.
The sweet author of Butterflyshapes just did a post on me and I'm ever grateful and very honored. You can check out her blog and the piece here: Wednesday Warrior.
Keep using your voices, everyone!
It doesn't have to be something BIG.
If you wear an awareness ribbon, bracelet, or shirt, you are supporting the cause. By facilitating discussion over these items, you are spreading the word.
By telling your story, sharing your desire to help, or providing resources to those in need you are doing a great service.
If you are simply reading and re-posting important recovery related info, you are doing a great job of keeping the heart of ED Awareness Week beating strong!
Don't stop now. There are still 3 days left.
The sweet author of Butterflyshapes just did a post on me and I'm ever grateful and very honored. You can check out her blog and the piece here: Wednesday Warrior.
Keep using your voices, everyone!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Accept Yourself, Accept Others
It's an important message - to accept yourself and others. It MEANS something.
And we should all strive to do it. This simple mantra is ANAD's (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) message during Eating Disorder Awareness Week and every other day of the year.
Yesterday, I posted about their website and their Awareness Week page.
I would love to see more bracelets like this worn by the masses. It can represent whatever you want it to represent for your personal recovery, but the meaning is clear.
I mentioned these awareness bracelets that can be purchased by way of a donation to the important cause. I have one.
I've had one for some time now. I wear it often.
Eating Disorder Awareness Week is still young! And my voice will still be heard when the week comes to a close. How about you?
And we should all strive to do it. This simple mantra is ANAD's (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) message during Eating Disorder Awareness Week and every other day of the year.
Yesterday, I posted about their website and their Awareness Week page.
I mentioned these awareness bracelets that can be purchased by way of a donation to the important cause. I have one.
I've had one for some time now. I wear it often.
Eating Disorder Awareness Week is still young! And my voice will still be heard when the week comes to a close. How about you?
Monday, February 21, 2011
You Can Now Follow
You can still "friend" me on Facebook personally via the icon to your left in my sidebar, where you will most certainly get random updates and eating disorder info in addition to all the notifications of my thrilling personal life. :)
BUT you can now follow MY BLOG via Facebook. It has its own page and you will get all the updates through Facebook there if you so choose. Link just below. Click and you'll be taken there to follow through your Facebook account. :)
Follow Actively Arielle: A Voice with a Commitment on Facebook now.
BUT you can now follow MY BLOG via Facebook. It has its own page and you will get all the updates through Facebook there if you so choose. Link just below. Click and you'll be taken there to follow through your Facebook account. :)
Follow Actively Arielle: A Voice with a Commitment on Facebook now.
Get Involved, or Just Get Ready for Recovery!
ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders), the organization with which I am affiliated for the support group I lead, etc. has a great page devoted to Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
-You can get involved in a number of ways.
-You can get ready for recovery by printing their Awareness Week calendar of music to listen to and activities to do.
-You can donate to the cause.
-You can order some really awesome awareness bracelets, one of which I wear almost every day.
There are a plethora of other pages on ANAD's website as well that do not directly relate to Awareness Week. Check it out. You'll be glad you did!
-You can get involved in a number of ways.
-You can get ready for recovery by printing their Awareness Week calendar of music to listen to and activities to do.
-You can donate to the cause.
-You can order some really awesome awareness bracelets, one of which I wear almost every day.
There are a plethora of other pages on ANAD's website as well that do not directly relate to Awareness Week. Check it out. You'll be glad you did!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
To Kick Off Eating Disorder Awareness Week...
I'd like to share the newest Motivational Mash-Up I've created so far. From time to time, I compile bits and pieces of what I call "key thoughts, concepts, and Arielle-isms," turn them into a short (only 3 or 4 minutes each) video, and send them out into the world to encourage.
I just made a brand new Motivational Mash-Up (#3) and thought that putting it out there might be a nice way to kick off National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
I plan to do my very best to create a post every single day of this important week. For now, I will start you all off this.
Links to the original Mash-Up and #2 are at the end of the video.
I just made a brand new Motivational Mash-Up (#3) and thought that putting it out there might be a nice way to kick off National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
I plan to do my very best to create a post every single day of this important week. For now, I will start you all off this.
Links to the original Mash-Up and #2 are at the end of the video.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Denial & That Push Forward
This week's topic is: Denial & That Push Forward. Finally YouTube has granted me the ability to post videos longer than 15 minutes, so you get a bit more without me having to edit myself after I'm done talking to fit it all into a 10 minute window! :)