Hi all,
Wow! Great meeting tonight! Thanks so much to Lisa Friedman, LCSW for the awesome presentation on Creative Tools for Your Recovery!
I learned so much tonight! The wallet card with list of coping tools, positive aspects of recovery, and negative aspects of staying in your ED; the water exercise where we can see what % of our energy we are giving to different areas of our lives, the ripped piece of paper that symbolized how we tear ourselves in pieces when we let our negative mind take over and how hard it can be to take it back, the deck of cards as a way to remember our successes and the rock to use as a concrete reminder of the support group when we are not in group...
It was a very special group tonight, made me think back on the last seven years of recovery. It will be seven years this fall that I walked into Lisa Friedman's office for the very first time. My mom drove me that first day, I was on the verge of hospitalization from my ED and had to take a medical leave of absence from my job as an elementary school teacher...it would take pages and pages to recount what these seven years have been...a long journey of growth, healing and self-discovery...definitely not easy, but oh, so worth it...!
It was so awesome to be able to invite Lisa and have her speak at the group...and I am so thankful everything has worked out the way it has...my mom met Lisa seven years ago while they were doing volunteer work for the same organization and that is how she came to be my therapist. I was able to meet Sarah and her mom along the way and later Nikki thanks to Lisa. I shared the idea with Lisa about my desire to help others in recovery...and with her support, Nikki, Sarah and I later founded the Broward Chapter of ANAD...
I came to Flamingo Road Church one year ago because I saw Pastor Troy on TV and it was at FRC where I heard him say, that as long as our hearts are still beating, and our lungs are taking in air, G-d is not finished with us, and that when we fail, it is not the end, and G-d can still do something amazing with us and use everything in our past to help us accomplish our purpose and reach our potential...that message touched my heart and brought about the idea to use my past experiences with ED, chronic depression and anxiety to start a group where I could help others that are where I once used to be...
It will be seven years ago this fall that I walked into Lisa's office for the first time, on the verge of hospitalization, and thinking I did not even deserve a bed (yes, the girl in that story was me!)...and seven years later, here we all are...
Thanks so much mom and dad, for taking me to therapy seven years ago, for your unconditional love and acceptance. Thanks Lisa, for all you have done, for the hard work we have done together during the last seven years! and for being there tonight! Thanks so much Sarah for keeping me honest while I helped you with your recovery and learned so much from you along the way. Thanks Nikki, for being such an amazing professional and being willing to start the group with Sarah and I. Thanks Pastor Troy for the message that grabbed my heart and gave meaning to my past suffering and struggles, by making a difference now that I am able to help others that are on their way to recovery...and for reminding me of this promise:
Wow! Great meeting tonight! Thanks so much to Lisa Friedman, LCSW for the awesome presentation on Creative Tools for Your Recovery!
I learned so much tonight! The wallet card with list of coping tools, positive aspects of recovery, and negative aspects of staying in your ED; the water exercise where we can see what % of our energy we are giving to different areas of our lives, the ripped piece of paper that symbolized how we tear ourselves in pieces when we let our negative mind take over and how hard it can be to take it back, the deck of cards as a way to remember our successes and the rock to use as a concrete reminder of the support group when we are not in group...
It was a very special group tonight, made me think back on the last seven years of recovery. It will be seven years this fall that I walked into Lisa Friedman's office for the very first time. My mom drove me that first day, I was on the verge of hospitalization from my ED and had to take a medical leave of absence from my job as an elementary school teacher...it would take pages and pages to recount what these seven years have been...a long journey of growth, healing and self-discovery...definitely not easy, but oh, so worth it...!
It was so awesome to be able to invite Lisa and have her speak at the group...and I am so thankful everything has worked out the way it has...my mom met Lisa seven years ago while they were doing volunteer work for the same organization and that is how she came to be my therapist. I was able to meet Sarah and her mom along the way and later Nikki thanks to Lisa. I shared the idea with Lisa about my desire to help others in recovery...and with her support, Nikki, Sarah and I later founded the Broward Chapter of ANAD...
I came to Flamingo Road Church one year ago because I saw Pastor Troy on TV and it was at FRC where I heard him say, that as long as our hearts are still beating, and our lungs are taking in air, G-d is not finished with us, and that when we fail, it is not the end, and G-d can still do something amazing with us and use everything in our past to help us accomplish our purpose and reach our potential...that message touched my heart and brought about the idea to use my past experiences with ED, chronic depression and anxiety to start a group where I could help others that are where I once used to be...
It will be seven years ago this fall that I walked into Lisa's office for the first time, on the verge of hospitalization, and thinking I did not even deserve a bed (yes, the girl in that story was me!)...and seven years later, here we all are...
Thanks so much mom and dad, for taking me to therapy seven years ago, for your unconditional love and acceptance. Thanks Lisa, for all you have done, for the hard work we have done together during the last seven years! and for being there tonight! Thanks so much Sarah for keeping me honest while I helped you with your recovery and learned so much from you along the way. Thanks Nikki, for being such an amazing professional and being willing to start the group with Sarah and I. Thanks Pastor Troy for the message that grabbed my heart and gave meaning to my past suffering and struggles, by making a difference now that I am able to help others that are on their way to recovery...and for reminding me of this promise:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."~ Jeremiah 29:11
I truly do believe everything happens for a reason, and I am thankful for every circumstance, good and bad, that has lead to this moment...because now, I get to do life with, learn from, make a difference and help amazing people like you...
Peace, Hope and Love,
Lily
I truly do believe everything happens for a reason, and I am thankful for every circumstance, good and bad, that has lead to this moment...because now, I get to do life with, learn from, make a difference and help amazing people like you...
Peace, Hope and Love,
Lily
*G-d is not the usual way I spell G-d but I am doing so in this post in respect to all of our jewish friends...
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