Sunday 20th Feb 11 - Day Before the Week

I struggled with ideas on what to do for EDAW this year. I didn't want to do many, if any, radio interviews this year as they have caused me problems/triggers in previous years. I also couldn't commit to anything major due to not being able to take the time off of work.

I pondered things slightly.

I didn't want to write to Downing Street and MPs again this year as I am feeling slightly at ease with the general movements towards health provisions. So didn't feel like I needed to jump on that again this year.

I am continuing with my contacting of social network sites, search engines and ISPs about trying to remove Pro-Ana sites and also to try and make it easier for people to find healthy supportive sites, but this is ongoing so didn't feel I warranted a massive push this week.

So I didn't really have a direction.

Then I linked up with a couple of people on twitter (@issawolfe and @nickinoxford) who had an idea about a potential tweet-up or a twitter based awareness campaign.

After a few weeks of discussions, they had come up with what is possibly one of the best initiatives I have heard of.
#learningtolaugh

An awareness campaign but one where people who are in recovery can spend time focusing on that.

EDAW sometimes can be a very backward looking week where people focus on the illness. We have created a space where people will be able to focus on recovery and be able to laugh.

As soon as I heard about Learning to Laugh, I loved it. In all the years I was suffering with Anorexia i used to laugh, but it was never real. I never knew how to laugh properly, I didn't know how to enjoy things, I didn't want to enjoy life.

Recovery is a process of learning, but learning to laugh is when I felt like I was able to really enjoy life, live for life and be happy again.

I have learned to laugh, but I have not totally recovered, but at least now I know how to laugh I have something to really fight for in the darker times.

So to anyone who is recovering or is thinking about recovering from an Eating Disorder, spend this week thinking about all the good that recovery will bring... spend some time to look forward and spend some time, laughing.

use #learningtolaugh to spread the word that recovery is a happy process and spread awareness.

Use our Facebook site ( http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Learning-to-Laugh/203227313024056 ) to link up with people who might be able to help you or just to share things with others.

Eating Disorder Awareness Week is for everyone. Enjoy