|
hisannabelle -> in memory of polly williams / national eating disorder awareness week (2/12/2008 10:24:19 PM)
|
this is not another fat thread. i would ask that it not be turned into one.
on february 8, 2008, a beautiful woman passed from this world. polly williams, one of the women featured in lauren greenfield's thin documentary, who touched many lives with her strength in dealing with her eating disorder and chronic illness, as well as her amazing photography work and love of life, died. my kneejerk reaction was to wonder what happened. only a few hours before she'd blogged about feeling hopeful. someone else put it very well. does it matter whether she had a heart attack or she fell and broke her hip? she had an eating disorder. she died. this is what this awful disease does to people.
regardless of what you believe about body image and body size, i would ask that in remembrance of polly and because national eating disorders awareness week is coming up, everyone do something to educate themselves and others on the reality of eating disorders. even if it's small, just speaking out against a joke about bulimia or anorexia, or asking someone you know and are worried about to get help...please, please do something to educate yourself and/or others. i've had an eating disorder for eight years, and although my own body is wrecked partly from this, polly is only the second person i've known personally who has died from it - but millions of women and men suffer from eating disorders that do wreak havoc on their bodies and are often fatal. we can each do something in our own small way to stop more people from dying. in addition, i'd ask that we each do something good for ourselves and do our best to treat our bodies and souls better. you are a blessing just the way you were made.
if you would like to know more about polly, her obituary can be found here.
if you would like to know more about eating disorders in general, here are some helpful links:
the disordered times blog
http://www.somethingfishy.org/
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
my pm box is always open if anyone is interested or wishes to talk about this issue.
respectfully,
meg.
|
|
|
|
