I finally had some time to perk up Magnolia Creek’s Facebook page this week and thought I’d send out a note in case anyone wanted to check it out. I’ve posted pictures of our grounds, photos from holiday decorating, added some causes and a feed from this blog. (The content isn’t all that new or different if you visit our website regularly, but Facebook might be a better way for you to stay posted on our doings over here at the Creek!)
If you’re new to Facebook, here are some ways you can show your support for Magnolia Creek,
Add our Affirmations application to your profile or page. We are big believers in positive thoughts and inspirational quotes. The application will post an affirmation and/or an inspirational quote on a daily or weekly basis (you can customize the settings) wherever you place it. You can even set it to privately email you an affirmation on a regular basis.
Become a fan of Magnolia Creek’s Page, which I will try to do a better job of maintaining!
Magnolia Creek is very excited to announce that, with the help of several sponsors and partners (see below), we will be bringing the acclaimed documentary, “America the Beautiful,” to Birmingham and several other cities in the South!
“America the Beautiful” is a socially probing documentary that explores the question, “Does America have an unhealthy obsession with beauty?” Filmmaker Darryl Roberts spent two years to uncover the secrets, the deadly risks, and the strikingly harsh realities of our nation’s quest for physical perfection.
This film has been playing to sold-out audiences across the country, and I was fortunate enough to catch it at an eating disorders conference earlier this year. It truly is a “must-see,” so please mark your calendars, and come back to our website soon as we will be making tickets available online very soonpurchase an advance ticket on our website.
Thursday, January 29, 2009: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Samford University (exact location TBD)
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, Alabama
7:00 pm
Tickets for all showings will be $10.00 general admission and $5.00 students. Each showing will also be followed by a discussion panel featuring Darryl Roberts (the filmmaker), myself, and representatives from the Eating Disorder Center of Alabama, The Ranch and Focus Healthcare of Tennessee.
The elves at Magnolia Creek got busy this weekend and decorated our beautiful house and grounds for the holidays! Stop by our photo gallery to view some of the pictures (which don’t do the real thing justice) of their handiwork.
I wasn’t really sure about sharing this news, as it was sad and seemed too personal for our blog. However, several of our staff and residents felt that we should pay tribute to her since many of our alumni read the blog and would like to know.
Magnolia Creek, as many of you may know, is home to a beautiful 5-acre lake populated by game fish, and wild ducks and geese. Our residents enjoy peaceful walks around our lake, and they take pride in regularly feeding the animals that populate it.
Ethel is the white goose on the bottom right
Among our geese are Fred, Ethel, and Uggy, easily spotted as they are all-white, and most of our geese are darker Canadian geese.
I’m sad to report that we had to put Ethel recently after she developed a large, cancerous tumor on her back. We had contacted the wildlife department at Oak Mountain State Park and a local vet to see if anything could be done, but they determined that she was in pain and should be put down humanely. I should note that Fred and Uggy were particularly protective of her during her last days and would encircle her if any other humans or animals came near.
Our residents and staff were saddened to lose her, as she has been a constant presence at Magnolia Creek for more than two years. She has been buried on the property, and her celebratory honks during bonfires and graduation ceremonies will be sorely missed.
Yesterday’s “CNN Health Minute” addresses the challenges eating disorder sufferers face during the holidays. The segment features Kris Shock, who we have worked with with at the Eating Disorders Information Network.
Kris’s advice to “take care of yourself” is important for everyone, not just eating disorder sufferers, to remember. Thanks to Kris for sharing her story.
Next week is Thanksgiving and the start of (we hope!) several weeks of parties and celebration for the holidays. The season is meant to be a happy and joyous one, but we know that it can be especially stressful if you or someone you love is coping with or recovering from an eating disorder.
Helpful Holiday Hints
I recently received a couple of posts and articles with suggestions for handling the holidays and thought I’d pass them on:
PsychCentral - Manage Eating Disorders Over the Holidays: Their suggestion for having a “wing man” to help run interference and manage triggers is a really good one. The buddy system can work, so don’t be afraid to ask someone else for help or offer to help someone you think will need it.
Eating Disorders Blogs - Negotiating Holiday Eating: I like how they start off with a reminder that holiday traditions really are about relationships and activities and shouldn’t revolve heavily around food. They also echo a suggestion in the previous article for having some sort of a signal or code word to use if the situation becomes too overwhelming or triggering.
Something Fishy - Your Recovery Toolbox: These suggestions aren’t just meant for the holidays but year-round. If you haven’t already, take the time NOW to create a coping bank, rally some friends for a support group, and add other tools and motivations to your arsenal. Think like a Boy Scout, and “Be Prepared.”
Workshops
And don’t forget, there are two workshops coming up as well:
12/5 - 12/6/2008: Former Magnolia Creek residents are invited to attend a “Holiday Survival Workshop for Alumni” (Don’t forget to RSVP by November 28!)
To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.
Founder Jamie Tworkowski is taking her message on the road this fall with her presentation “Conversation: Pain, Hope, Questions, and Community,” with music by Josh Moore. Her tour will be stopping in Birmingham - if you or someone you know is struggling with depression, take the time to attend this very special talk.
I thought it was high time to post on the blog myself and share a little bit about some of what goes on at Magnolia Creek. Last Wednesday night at the Creek was our third Drum Circle with John Scalici from Get Rhythm Programs.
What an amazing experience!
John teaches that drum circles can be used as a metaphor for many aspects of recovery, including empowerment, overcoming struggle, and connection.
I’d never participated in a drum circle before, so I was a little apprehensive- thinking that we might have to yell out war calls or worse yet- perform a solo.I was surprised as to how relaxing drumming can be. I expected it to be kind of loud and overwhelming, but it was more centering and comforting.
My favorite part was when one of the residents played a rhythm of recovery, symbolizing her triumph over the eating disorder.She used an ocean drum, which makes sort of a humming/purring noise, as a metaphor for the balance she wants to have when she recovers.
If you live in the area, John told us that he has a community drum circle one Saturday a month in Homewood. We’re thinking it would be really cool to do this as an outing!
The Eating Disorders Information Network (EDIN) in Atlanta, GA is offering two workshops this month that might be of interest:
11/17/2008: Introduction to Yoga Nidra - Richard Miller will be offering a one hour introduction to this meditation yoga. Visit Richard Miller’s website at www.nondual.com to learn more about this method of reconnecting with self.
11/24/2008: Navigating Holiday Social Eating workshop - Just in time for Thanksgiving, EDIN will be hosting a workshop led by a nutritionist experienced in eating disorder recovery. If you are unable to attend our “Holiday Survival Workshop for Alumni,” consider attending EDIN’s workshop.
For more information or to register, visit the EDIN website at http://myedin.org.
We know that the holiday season can be challenging if you are in recovery from an eating disorder. Which is why Magnolia Creek is hosting a special “Holiday Survival Workshop” for our former residents.
Come back to “the Creek” to reconnect with other former residents and staff, and find the support you need to survive and even enjoy the upcoming holidays.
December 5th and 6th
(Please note that the original mailed invitation had the incorrect days of the week.)
I finally had some time to perk up Magnolia Creek’s Facebook page this week and thought I’d send out a note in case anyone wanted to check it out. I’ve posted pictures of our grounds, photos from holiday decorating, added some causes and a feed from this blog. (The content isn’t all that new or different if you visit our website regularly, but Facebook might be a better way for you to stay posted on our doings over here at the Creek!)
