Any New Yorker will confirm just how difficult it can be to schedule anything in this bustling metropolis. From business meetings, to running in the park, to dinner and a movie--skill is definitely required. It seems we often have to pencil in "fun", just to make sure we find time to have some. It should come as no surprise then, that despite much interest, it's been difficult to schedule as many of these blog interviews as I'd like. I assure you that I'm currently working on two really great interviews to be posted within the next few weeks, but I hate to let this project go idle every time life gets busy.
While the central focus of this blog is beauty, and learning to recognize it--both in the world around us and within ourselves, I've also made it known that I am very much interested in and involved with promoting eating disorder prevention and awareness. While in many ways this can and should be viewed as a separate issue entirely, I know first hand, that failing to recognize the beauty you possess--whether internal, external, or both--can lead to deep feelings of worthlessness and unworthiness, all too often manifesting themselves in a full blown eating disorder.
With that in mind, I've decided to share this promotional video for a truly wonderful production that I saw in the city this past fall, called "36:24:36". Yes, there are many plays about eating disorders, as creative writing is often an effective tool in both recovery and prevention. But more often than not, these plays are so focused on the sufferer's behaviors and recounting how terribly painful their struggle was, that instead of aiding recovery and enlightening the audience, it becomes a script filled with triggers that reinforce the negative feelings that led to disordered eating in the first place. And so it continues. If that is the rule, than this play is definitely the exception. It's the single most accurate, yet non-triggering, account of eating disorders I have ever seen--and the only one that bothers to address that men frequently suffer from eating disorders too. As a young woman interviewed in the promo says, "They got it." These gifted and thoughtful writers know all to well just how easily the eating disorder cycle can be set into motion, and though they take special care to keep this from happening, they never once sacrifice the piece's raw emotion or poignancy. In fact, I think this adds to it. Despite this emotional punch, it's filled with witty humor that kept me laughing every bit as much as my eyes welled up. I would bet my paycheck that someone who had no particular interest in eating disorders and came to see this show, would walk away both thoroughly entertained and with a new respect and understanding of just how vital prevention and awareness truly are.
The promo was edited by my friend, Stephanie--who also happens to be one of the writers and actors in the play--in the hopes of gaining opportunities to perform again. This play simply needs to be seen. No question. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to watch the video. And if you or anyone you know would be interested in helping to get this production out there where it's needed most, please visit their website (found in the video and in my list of links in the right hand column) . Traveling to college campuses, high schools, a longer run in the city--any and all would be a major step in helping to spread the word and stopping this illness in its tracks. As always, thank you--and stay tuned for more interviews coming very soon!
While the central focus of this blog is beauty, and learning to recognize it--both in the world around us and within ourselves, I've also made it known that I am very much interested in and involved with promoting eating disorder prevention and awareness. While in many ways this can and should be viewed as a separate issue entirely, I know first hand, that failing to recognize the beauty you possess--whether internal, external, or both--can lead to deep feelings of worthlessness and unworthiness, all too often manifesting themselves in a full blown eating disorder.
With that in mind, I've decided to share this promotional video for a truly wonderful production that I saw in the city this past fall, called "36:24:36". Yes, there are many plays about eating disorders, as creative writing is often an effective tool in both recovery and prevention. But more often than not, these plays are so focused on the sufferer's behaviors and recounting how terribly painful their struggle was, that instead of aiding recovery and enlightening the audience, it becomes a script filled with triggers that reinforce the negative feelings that led to disordered eating in the first place. And so it continues. If that is the rule, than this play is definitely the exception. It's the single most accurate, yet non-triggering, account of eating disorders I have ever seen--and the only one that bothers to address that men frequently suffer from eating disorders too. As a young woman interviewed in the promo says, "They got it." These gifted and thoughtful writers know all to well just how easily the eating disorder cycle can be set into motion, and though they take special care to keep this from happening, they never once sacrifice the piece's raw emotion or poignancy. In fact, I think this adds to it. Despite this emotional punch, it's filled with witty humor that kept me laughing every bit as much as my eyes welled up. I would bet my paycheck that someone who had no particular interest in eating disorders and came to see this show, would walk away both thoroughly entertained and with a new respect and understanding of just how vital prevention and awareness truly are.
The promo was edited by my friend, Stephanie--who also happens to be one of the writers and actors in the play--in the hopes of gaining opportunities to perform again. This play simply needs to be seen. No question. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to watch the video. And if you or anyone you know would be interested in helping to get this production out there where it's needed most, please visit their website (found in the video and in my list of links in the right hand column) . Traveling to college campuses, high schools, a longer run in the city--any and all would be a major step in helping to spread the word and stopping this illness in its tracks. As always, thank you--and stay tuned for more interviews coming very soon!
