In Which I Shamelessly Use My Impending 50th Birthday to Beg for Something

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!

 

 

 

Comments

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

DONE. Happy birthday a few days early! ♥

Are you still hoping to come up to the PacNW to kayak with the whales?

[Liz]

The link doesn't seem to work.

[Katherine]

Done. Happy early birthday!

[jean]

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.

[Katie Jennings]

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....

[Jen]

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.

[Brightside-Susan]

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!

[Busy Bee Suz]

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

[auntjone]

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!