Remember to celebrate your milestones in recovery

I keep being reminded how hard the struggle is for us. And it is important to remember that recovery is a journey. But unlike other metaphors about journeys that are poetic and beautiful, I am not so sure that this journey is the kind that you always really feel like savoring and enjoying so much along the way. Because really we want so much to get to the end and get to the other side. But, we do need to remember to celebrate our personal milestones of recovery. We must be proud of our progress and see our change. (See more on EDA's recovery milestones):

http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org/docs/EDA%20Milestones%20of%20Recovery%201.1.pdf

But, each of us are unique. And your milestones may not be my milestones. Each of us has unique fears and challenges that we must face. And recovery is not food specific. While we are truly "food phobics" and "weight phobics", recovery is about so so much more. Recovery is about finding your voice in life. Finding your strength, and finding yourself in this world. It is about finding your life path, and finding your way. Growing up and growing stronger. Making goals and sticking to them. It is about becoming a bigger person, a more whole person, and a more consistent person. While sometimes change is huge and others can see it. Sometimes progress comes in tiny steps that maybe only we can see. But all steps are meaningful and important.

At times, life is indescribably hard with an eating disorder, and the non-eating disordered around us do not always understand just how hard is it to struggle moment by moment. So sometimes it is up to us, to remember to celebrate each of our own beautiful victories, to smile and breathe them in. And we can share them with each other, because we know (and you most DEFINITELY can share them with me!). WE KNOW, how hard it is to accomplish these major milestones.
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Sandra’s seen a leprechaun,
Eddie touched a troll,
Laurie danced with witches once,
Charlie found some goblins gold.
Donald heard a mermaid sing,
Susy spied an elf,
But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself.

-Shel Silverstein
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Remember to celebrate the magic within yourself my friends as you travel along your journey