As you may know, I am in countdown mode to my 50th birthday. T-8 days to be precise. I was pretty angsty about the whole thing for about nine months and then I just sort of realized that it was happening regardless (God willing and the creek don't rise) and the internal whinging was not going to make a damn bit of difference so I ought to just move on. And I did.
But . . .
50 IS a big birthday and it would be a shame to let it pass without some sort of bloggy celebration; after all I've been doing this since I was but a young woman of 42. (Good. Grief.)
(Insert smooth transition that is just not happening for me writing-wise right now.)
A pretty amazing thing happened today; this piece was published on Yahoo. If you remember, the beginning of all of this was just last week, so it's been quite a whirlwind. The thing I'm most pleased about is all the new recruits to my long-dreamed of Twitter Army of Eating Disorder Awareness Advocates and Activists. People are beginning to believe!
What does this have to do with my birthday?
This journalist, Beth Greenfield, did a fantastic job with the piece; she asked insightful questions and her story reflects what we talked about--that's not always a given. I would love for her editor to see that a story like this--one that raises awareness and highlights advocacy--can generate traffic.
To that end . . .
For my birthday, I would like all of you--regular commenters, intermittent readers and lurkers alike--to leave a comment on the Yahoo piece. If you would like to put icing on that birthday cake of mine, you could also retweet me--@jugglingjenn--as I am looking to take this story even further; national coverage would be a dream come true.
To get the message out that eating disorders are deadly diseases with a strong neurobiological component and deserve the evidence-based treatment and insurance coverage that is a given for other medical conditions is what I REALLY want for my birthday.
Will you help a sister out?
P.S. YES, you do have to have a Yahoo account to comment. It takes less than 30 seconds to sign up. I love you!
DONE. Happy birthday a few days early! ♥
Are you still hoping to come up to the PacNW to kayak with the whales?
Posted by: Karen (formerly kcinnova) | March 20, 2014 at 01:09 AM
The link doesn't seem to work.
Posted by: Liz | March 20, 2014 at 12:20 PM
Done. Happy early birthday!
Posted by: Katherine | March 20, 2014 at 02:11 PM
When the photo of you and your daughter showed up on Yahoo, I freaked out. I'm yelling, I know her. I know them both. I immediately read the article and then posted it on my Facebook page. Congratulations for helping to change the world view one business at a time.
Posted by: jean | March 20, 2014 at 09:17 PM
I got about 10 comments down before giving up in disgust. Well done for calling them on their total lack of respect/ common sense/ functioning brains! Off to retweet it now....
Posted by: Katie Jennings | March 21, 2014 at 02:42 AM
Oh my goodness, I just made the mistake of reading some of the comments on the article. Please do not let any of that complete nonsense affect you in any way! I did have to laugh at the one that said you need to buy a certain item for your nightstand! (You just have to laugh, or you will cry at the idiocy). I am proud to call you my friend and I hope you have big plans for your 50th.
Posted by: Jen | March 21, 2014 at 04:40 PM
Not tweeter - but I will sign in on Yahoo!
Happy b-d. It really isn't as bad as you fear - and I say this from 10 years down the road!
Posted by: Brightside-Susan | March 24, 2014 at 11:38 PM
I'll get over there next. I can't believe you are having your big birthday soon. And by big, I mean "not really big, but really cool, because you are really cool"
XOXO
Posted by: Busy Bee Suz | March 25, 2014 at 05:24 PM
Holy cats I cannot believe some of the comments on the Yahoo article. It is the parents' fault? It isn't really a disease? Just wow. I left a comment but don't plan to read any follow up replies to it. I don't think my comment was inflammatory but I'm sure someone will find fault in it!
Posted by: auntjone | March 27, 2014 at 11:23 AM