The 'Culture of Cutting Back'

This week, I was given my sister’s ‘old’ iPhone. Being without a phone for a month was quite the feat but I wash happy to have access again to those who live far and near me.

Enamoured and fascinated by these different applications, games, time-wasters that come with the iPhone, I truly got lost in every little game and feature I could simply download in a matter of seconds.

Excitedly, I came across a category entitled: “Health & Wellness” apps. Assuming I would be able to download some nifty ‘meditation-on-the-go’ apps or positive quotes.  Although these options were indeed available, I came across some other apps. Calorie counters, ‘Cutting is back,’ ‘Losing it’ and the list could go on.  These apps were free, accessible, and had an otherwise, were marketed in a way that put a ‘positive’ and ‘productive’ spin on controlling one’s weight.  There was a notable absence on apps that encouraged personal well-being, acceptance, and personal development.

How is it that in such a materialized culture, we are encouraged to live big and own these elaborate devices, yet when it comes to our bodies, we must ‘cut back’?

Is this simply an expression of an increased value of our external surroundings over our own health, body, and happiness? 

Allow me to introduce myself...

Hi everyone!

My name is Alyson I am here simply to introduce myself as a placement student at Eating Disorders of York Region.

After some discussions with my supervisor and executive director, Janice Morgante, I have decided to use this space to share my thoughts with you and for you also to share yours with mine. As you know, the internet has become a limitless forum for exploring ideas, reactions, responses, and in essence, is a vast turf for self-expression. As a result, I want to use this space to do exactly that. Share.

What will I be talking about?

Well, that is very much dependent on the week. As I see it now, I think it would be great to discuss an important theme or idea that I feel has come up throughout the week. These themes can range from self-care, recovery, personal development, challenges, and healing. Life is changing everyday and we are constantly learning new things and finding ourselves bending and adapting to our surroundings.  Life is teaching us everyday and showing us more about ourselves in how we feel, react, and understand our world.  I want to use this blog as a way to understand these changes that we all encounter.

I want to highlight that I want to be very inclusive of readers and their struggles. No one experiences the same difficulties, nor do we trudge through the same challenges as one another. But one thing in which we can find unison is that at our basic human level, we simply do struggle.  Even thoug this blog will actively acknowledge these struggles, whether they be addiction, an eating disorder(s), depression, I  do hope that this space becomes a place of support, optimism, growth, and a hand to hold.

Although I won’t be able to hold your hand, physically, I want my words to be some support to you, as I have found a hand to hold through people’s words even though I never knew him or her.

I look forward to connecting with you or just simply offering another perspective.

A.

Beautiful Butterfly Pendant Gift

Touch someone's heart today with your support and receive this beautiful sterling silver and crystal double-heart butterfly pendant as our gift with your donation of $50.00 or more.

Eating Disorders 101

This very informative film was made by NORMAL, a non-profit organization that educates about eating disorders in the United States.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB1WYEUZJL0&noredirect=1

An Inspiring Campaign

This is a campaign launched by a Spanish organization Action Against Hunger - “In a world which has the capacity to feed twice its population, 3.5 million children still die of starvation every year. We should learn.”
They launched this experiment named Experiment Comparte (The Share Experiment) to study the behavior of children when faced with an uneven reality. To share or not to share? The answer for children comes naturally: out of 20 kids who participated, all of them decided to share. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wUwhVUy2uTo

A Very Successful Book Sale

Thank you to Necha, Jan and EDOYR supporters - Sunday's book sale was a great success raising $426.00!  Thank you to students from Thornlea High School for volunteering!

Some people bought books - some made a donation - some bought books and made donation. 

Funds raised will enable EDOYR to continue to provide support groups, a telephone help line and community out reach. 

On behalf of the Board, thank you to all who supported a wonderful Friend Raising and Fund Raising event!  

Thornhill Village Festival!

On a warm, sunny day on the 3rd Saturday of September, EDOYR took part in the Thornhill Village Festival! Thank you everyone who came out to support EDOYR! A special thank you to Bob from Steppin' Out Productions for sharing their table with us, Tara for helping, and Nisha for being our photographer for the day!