Gwen Bell’s The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge continues–one topic for each day in December!
My favorite night out…well, I’ve already told you about one night out. It’s the blog about my The Best of 2009: Restaurant Moment. Check it out if you haven’t seen it already–I think you’ll enjoy it!
Jean, Oh Precious Jean
In 2009, I went through treatment for an eating disorder. Difficult? Yes. Sometimes yucky? Yes. Challenging? Yes. Humorous at times? Definitely yes.
I’ve stayed in touch with some of the women from treatment, but there was this “sleeper” named Jean. She’s beautiful, brilliant, witty, wonderful and, frankly, one of the most insightful and funny people I know. We met for dinner. We missed one another. We needed to reminisce and “check in” (we learned that check-y in-y stuff in treatment!).
Oh my, this was a seriously sacred night out.
Just to see her again was enough. But then, it started. First, we had a “one up-er” on who had gone on the most diets–the weirdest diets; the easiest diets; the stupidest diets—and everything in between. You get the picture. The one thing we agreed on is that none of them work.
Then our conversation went to body image. In case you didn’t know, for folks with an eating disorder, body image is a huge issue. Painful? You bet it is. Our culture has made sure we see enough images so we “know” what we’re supposed to look like—never mind that they’ve airbrushed and retouched the photos to the max! (I get a little hot about this one.)
But we didn’t go there. Jean and I chose to talk about how I saw my body and how she saw my body. This one-of-a-kind drawing was part of our dialogue. We laughed so hard–for a long time. This was the ultimate therapy. Laughter and telling the truth.
Jean was “in my face” about how I saw myself; that my perception was not reality. She loved me enough to walk through this with me (and laugh too). I love her for loving me enough to speak truth to me.
The night out was priceless–just like Jean.
Do you have friends in your life that will support you with truth, laughter and a shoulder? If not, get some. They are worth their weight in gold!
I am grateful.
Blessings!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
great blog entry….our bodies change so much with the years and our changing life cycles….the body we have at 30 is not the body we have at 50 nor will it be the body we have at 72. get happy I say: i appreciate that i can walk and hike for miles without pain, dance around the house swinging my hips wildly while listening to Carol King’s I Feel The Earth Move Under My Feet and snowshoe when the inches pile up. What is there to complain about? nothing. to feel bad about? nothing. I am grateful
Mom this was a great one – so funny. I am glad that you have someone other than me to help you with this. The picture is so great!
Boy, Helene, that’s right about our bodies changing. As always, I love the way you express your daily celebration and acceptance of what is worthy, uplifting and grace-filled. Thanks for the yummy reminder! I am SOOOOOO grateful!
Me too, Mandy. It’s loving relationships that support me–and you–along life’s paths. Love you dear daughter!
Lee,
This blog makes me smile whenever I read it. When I’m having moments of doubt or when negativity begins to creep in, I come back and read it again. Thank you, not only for your friendship, but for writing about this night. The best part about that night was not only the immediate help it gave both of us that night, but the fact that it was a powerful enough conversation to continue to help a couple of years later.
I love you!
Jean