One and a half years ago I moved to Pemberton, and I started working at the most amazing health food store & juice bar – Stay Wild Natural Health.
If you’re a regular at Stay Wild you might have noticed the abundance of amazing humans that walk through those doors on a daily basis. I would say I am extremely lucky to have met some pretty incredible, driven, and inspiring people from this area.
I am privileged to be a part of your lives in one way or another, whether just a momentary hello, or as a form of guidance. And I am extremely grateful to those who have allowed me to help them. Thank you.
Some of you may know that my passion is in nutrition and mental health. I focus a lot of my time on further study in anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
As this is my first post for Traced Elements, I would love to start by spreading awareness and shedding some light on the topic of eating disorders, as this is something people rarely speak of and something I endeavour to create a safe space for.
Around 5 years ago during Mental Health Week in Australia, I decided to share my story – my history facing an eating disorder. It had been a long time coming. I felt that I couldn’t fully help others until I could first be honest about how I came to be the person I am today, and why this is all so important to me.
Sharing my story was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, but also one of the best things I have done. Since living in Pemberton, I have witnessed the power of others sharing their own stories.
Never doubt that your experience, your story, can help or inspire others.
For those still battling with body image issues, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health condition, know that you are not alone. Know that even though it seems like the darkness will last forever, it doesn’t. Know that you ARE strong enough. You ARE beautiful enough. YOU ARE ENOUGH.
Thank you Traced Elements, and Lisa, for providing this platform for people to share. What an amazing community this is to be a part of.
I will leave you with this, a message from the National Eating Disorders Association:
NEDA week vision:
“Our theme this year is Let’s Get Real and our goal is to expand the conversation and highlight stories we don’t often hear. Our culture has complicated relationships with food, exercise, and appearance.
30 million Americans will struggle with a full-blown eating disorder and millions more will battle food and body image issues that have untold negative impacts on their lives.
But because of stigma and old stereotypes, many people don’t get the support they deserve. Join the conversation and help us raise awareness, bust myths, get people screened, and start journeys to healing.”
A Message from NEDA: Let’s get real – eating disorders can affect anyone, anywhere. This National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (#NEDAwareness), we’re changing the conversation around food, body image, and eating disorders! Join us at nedawareness.org.
@NutritionistAbroad
Traced Elements 