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🌿✨PREFACE (⅔) – This second post is introducing something I’m much more shy about, which is maybe why I’m smushing it in between two things that I could confidently discuss for hours. I have only recently begun to grapple with the beast that is my eating disorder, and, like my aforementioned depression, I know I have a long (and probably bumpy) road ahead of me. After leaving school in the fall, I began an outpatient program in the city to address this issue, as it had completely consumed every part of my life. Even though the circumstances were unfortunate, I met so many incredible people in my program (hi guys!), and learned a ton of valuable techniques that I’m still using today. As eating disorders are still such a stigmatized disease, I’m so thankful to have found a strong and supportive community, with amazing role models like @bodyposipanda, @nourishandeat, and even @florence! (p.s. special shout out to @neda for all the amazing work they do!) 🌿✨

🌿✨PREFACE (⅓) –Starting things off with a few introductory posts so we’re all on the same page! • My first interaction with chronic illness was with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder at 16. And, honestly? The only thing I’ve learned these past 7 years is that depression is complex and ever changing, like a variable equation that I am constantly trying to solve. At first, this idea distressed me – how could I succeed when this dark cloud was constantly hanging over me? I’ve managed, though, with the right tools and support, and I’m more prepared than ever to face each new challenge head on. I know there are many new pieces to this equation that I have yet to address, but that’s okay! Lucky for me I’ve always enjoyed complex math problems. 🌿✨

🌿✨NEW BEGINNINGS – I’m unsure of what this post really means even as I’m writing it, but it feels like a necessary step toward recovery & progress. I have spent so much of my life caring about the opinions of others, and it has physically and emotionally exhausted me. When I initially left school last fall, I intended to take this next year to recover from a myriad of physical and emotional illnesses that have been haunting me my entire life. I quickly found myself doing anything but recovering –  instead, I sought out to prove that I was still doing well, still thriving in a society that wasn’t necessarily built to accommodate me and my sick body. Learning how to control a body that is chronically sick is a full time job in and of itself, and I know I am far from done with it. But I’m still kicking! And I’m ready to start sharing some of my experiences in a more public format. Why? I don’t know! So that maybe someone will have that little spark of human connection that reminds us why we’re alive? Sure! I wish I could begin to tell you what this account is going to be. Comics? Prints? Interpretive dance? I don’t know! Probably not the last one though. If you’re thinking, “this sounds like a weird, quirky, Bojack-ian ride, I’m in!” – then great! Welcome! I’m glad to have you here on this weird journey, whatever it turns out to be 🌿✨

They either didn’t think this through or they really thought this through

at Shortsville, New York

An agate stone that looks like a window to the ocean.

checking out all new followers xo