Day 47: Addiction Empathy + Momma

Today I learned...
...having had an eating disorder makes me understand alcoholism really, really well. Of course, I've made the correlations before. If I struggled with an addictive sort of mental illness in the past, it makes sense that I would be empathetic towards people who struggle with alcoholism. But tonight, watching the new movie Flight (Denzel Washington) with Rick, I realized that I watched the whole movie with a hyper-empathetic social worker lense. And I totally connected to the place the main character comes from, not because I learned about it in books and graduate classes, but because I GET IT. Now, I'm not going to pretend that I know what it's like to be a person with alcoholism. I don't. Yet, I tend to be a lot more understanding regarding addictions than the typical world at large...because the pain that happens when something is so terribly out of your control is a feeling I once knew too well.


Today I am thankful for...
...seeing my mom at lunch. Since I work down the street, I popped over at lunch time to see my parents. I showed my mom some flash mobs from One Billion Rising. Her response: "I want to do it with you next year!"

Day 17: Death + a Thank You

Today I learned...
...that death can mean so much more than pain and tears...that it can in fact be the best gift of all. At hospice, I met a dear, sweet, very elderly woman with one specific wish: to dance with her husband again. He has been dead for several years and she is more than ready to be with him. She has no regrets, no unfinished business, and no worries. She loved her life and she embraces its final chapter. Death has escaped her these last few days, though she is very weak and very ill. At her extreme age, it's amazing her body has held up through her terminal illness. She longs to die and this makes me happy, not sad. I mean it when I say that I hope she will be dancing with her husband very soon.

Today I am thankful for...
...the chance to tell a particular person that something she suggested changed my life for the better. By chance, this particular woman (whom I first met in October) popped into my life today and I was able to thank her sincerely as well as marvel at the full circle beauty that has since transpired.

Day 13: Wishes + Friendships

Today I learned...
...that wishes really can come true. See below.

Today I am thankful for...
...the official opportunity to see some of my very dearest friends on February 23rd in New York City. For 4 years, in addition to making videos on my own YouTube channel, I have been making Wednesday Warrior videos for a channel called WeRFreEDomFighters. My day is clearly Wednesday, but some other fantastic ladies make videos on other days of the week. Together, we create programs, video rotations, and educational topics. Together, we promote eating disorder recovery and reach thousands of people.

These women are also some of my dearest friends. We are everywhere: various parts of the USA, Italy, the UK. But we are connected by sisterly bonds and communicate daily through text messages, phone calls, Facebook, Twitter, emails, and of course - YouTube.

These strong friendships have been years in the making, but due to the fact that we don't live near each other, we have never met. And this February, several of us will.

It is with a heavy heart that I regret I cannot meet ALL of my Freedom Fighter sisters. But this February, I will get to meet 3 of them. My dear friend from the UK will be coming to the USA and arriving in NYC. My other FF sister will be arriving in NYC from Georgia. And a third dear friend currently LIVES in NYC, so will be there waiting for all of us with open arms. It will be a friend-fest!

I couldn't be more grateful or more excited!