Easter and Passover: what a combo. It's a powerful weekend with both commemorations happening at the same time. How are you doing? Here are some suggestions to make your day more happy.
Easter commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It speaks to our hearts of new life, triumph over adversity and the joy of new beginnings.
Passover commemorates Moses' determination to end slavery and the start of living in freedom. It speaks to our hearts of new life, triumph over adversity and the joy of new beginnings.
I'm in the midst of a Happy Day, and I hope you are too. Mine is filled with children -- two girls, seven and five. If you've read my book, Healing Your Hungry Heart: recovering from your eating disorder, you've been introduced to Delilah and Hannah.
They are in the acknowledgments, and you've witnessed some of their inspiring games within the chapters. This morning, we are reading stories, playing Easter games we make up, plus playing a little croquet now called Quidditch, opponents being Slytherin and Hufflepuff.
What's the downside of these holidays when you are suffering from an eating disorder? I almost wrote, "plagued with an eating disorder." Perhaps that's better in terms of the Passover story.
It took many plagues to assault the oppressor before freedom was granted. And even then, the Jews had to cope with more hardship before they crossed the Red Sea. Can you use that metaphor?
Can the suffering from the plague of your eating disorder break the bonds of your eating disorder oppressor? Are you ready to brave the trials of the desert to reach your new life?
And what about the suffering of Jesus struggling up Calvery? In that tradition, He bore that suffering for us all. Once through it, He is resurrected into a new life, freedom for everyone.
Can you accept the freedom you have available? Can you struggle through your pain knowing that healing comes not by pain being removed but by us working our way through it?
Here's the big question, the big challenge for you. Instead of dwelling on the suffering and challenges of family difficulties, loneliness, dread of candy and gatherings centered around feasting, can you turn your attention to the meaning of these days? The key is using your energy to triumph over adversity to reach the joy of new beginnings.
You are not alone in this. Seeds and plants live through the adversity of winter and bloom in the welcoming Spring.
To commemorate this special time of the year, what can you do? Where can you turn your attention?
Defeating adversity doesn't have to mean a direct conflict where you say "No" to your eating disorder while you are sorely tempted to act out. Defeating this particular adversity can mean looking for alternative ways to direct your attention.
Can you look to color, courage, resourcefulness and determination that is around you? Can you let yourself see where commitment leads to wonderful new beginnings?
Look in gardens. Look at construction sites. Look at start-up businesses. Look at the healing process of your own body.
I love the old Walt Disney Silly Symphonies. They capture the joy and imagination of childhood. Some of them are dated.
Some of them are not viewed today because they have moments of politically incorrect philosophies that reflect another age. I hope we have moved beyond those philosophies so that we can still mine the treasures Disney offers. Children, with their fresh eyes, don't "get" the old references.
Here's one for your pleasure and delight that is a great favorite at my house. Every scene has a tiny, quickly passing bit of creativity that has the children watching again and again.
Me, too. Allow me to introduce you (or reintroduce you) to Walt Disney's The Funny Little Bunnies.
Let me know your experience and if you share it with children in your life. I'm wishing you happiness on this holiday of rebirth, new birth and new beginnings. Let the first be the birth of a fresh new perspective that allows you to see life and joy.
Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Written by Joanna Poppink, MFT. Joanna is a psychotherapist in private practice specializing in eating disorder recovery, stress, PTSD, and adult development.
She is licensed in CA, AZ, OR and FL. Author of the Book: Healing Your Hungry Heart: Recovering from Your Eating Disorder
Appointments are virtual.
For a free telephone consultation, e-mail her at
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