Arielle's Word of the Day #30: COMMUNITY

I hope you have all enjoyed this blogger challenge. I can't tell you how delighted I have been to receive the daily emails telling me how fun/thought-provoking/healing this has been for people. I may have created the framework, but YOU did the work.

You did it.

We are a community. I love to build on community. I love to see our strengths in all their glory. I love to boost people up, help them share, cheer with them as they rise above what holds them down. I have very much enjoyed reading all the posts of those who have participated in this month's Word of the Day challenge. It's been rewarding to see  how different we all are. I love that. I love that a single word can bring out such a rainbow of experiences, emotions, stories, art, self-discovery.

This blogger challenge has been a rich one. I feel rich to have witnessed the insight you have all shown and encountered. It's BEAUTIFUL.

Thank you for meeting the challenge. You exceed all expectations. Don't forget that you are amazing.

I want to give a HUGE thank you to my dear friend Tracey who helped facilitate this fantastic little blogger challenge. She propelled Hungry for Change and Actively Arielle into a work of art.

The Words of the Day may have ended, but your encouragement of each other doesn't have to end...nor does your self-reflection. Choose your own words of the day... choose your own paths... and look to your community for strength, renewal, and positive emotion. You are appreciated.

Love,
Arielle

PS. There may be future blogger challenges. :-) We'll give you some breathing time. The lovely Tracey and I have more in store for you.

Arielle's Word of the Day #22: HOME

Home can be many things. The feeling of "home" is unparalleled. Beautiful. Strong. Remember that no matter where you go, you can always take a little piece of home with you. The following poem is several years old and short. It's a sonnet (I call it "Sonnet for the Self"), for those of you who are into poetry. I've done a Shakespearean sonnet, which means it is written in iambic pentameter abab rhyme scheme...until the last 2 lines, which is an iambic pentameter couplet. That's a lot of English talk for those of you who could care less, but regardless, the poem has an important message.

Sonnet for the Self

Inside the mind, there is a little room.

It has a tiny lock and just one key.

Around it, doubt and shadows tend to loom,

But when the door is opened, truth goes free.

This little room—it houses all self-love.

Tear down the curtains; let the sunlight in.

No need to worry what you’re worthy of—

To love yourself can never be a sin.

Just bask beneath the rays of love and pride,

And never keep this bright room locked away.

Do not be meek or feel you have to hide—

Without self-love, true joy will never stay.

So give this room all that you have to give,

And you will always have a place to live.

© Arielle Lee Becker 2006

Keep the Hope Alive

Well friends, it's the last day of Eating Disorder Awareness Week - but this does not mean that the awareness should end. This is a week set apart from others. It is a time to devote voices and advocacy to a worthy cause. It is a time to talk about a subject which many keep closed inside of them.

But it can be like this any day, every week. It certainly is in my world. In my life. On my blog. Take ED Awareness Week with you and don't let it go. The heart of eating disorders is silence. Break the silence.

On that note, I'd like to share with you the most recent post from a fabulous little blog called Weighing the Facts. Mrs. Menopausal, the blog's author, did a post entitled Eating Disorders and Body Image Advocates and Why They Blog. She posted a link to my blog with a little write up, but she also shared a few other bloggers' links - and some of them are really fabulous. So check her out and check them out - today and every day!

Alternative Therapies

Here's my Wednesday video. This week's topic: Alternative Therapies - art, writing, dance, etc.

As always, click to view on YouTube, as embedding is not available.:)