Day 5: Movie Magic

Have you ever seen a movie that has changed your life? It was so well made and well acted and the plot was such that you were left thinking about ideas you didn’t even know were in your head. It can be any movie, not just some stuffy documentary about a weighty subject. For me, it’s How to Train Your Dragon 2, and I know what you’re thinking, that movie is for kids and this girl is a weirdo but I swear this movie changed. my. life.

The first HTTYD was excellent. I loved the characters and it was a classic coming of age tale where a young misunderstood teen finds his place among his people with the help of his new dragon friend. The sequel takes place five years later. This boy is now a man but he still a little different from his town. He loves exploring new lands with his dragon, Toothless, and isn’t ready to give that up to be the new chief. I don’t want to explain the whole plot of the movie because I you to see it yourself but it really is incredible.

This movie is so well animated it blows my mind. They put so much effort into the tiniest details so it would be as lifelike as possible. The score is wonderful. I am not lying when I say there is one part in particular that makes me feel like I can take on the world. And the plot is amazing! It still borders on a coming of age story but it draws in elements of family ties, love, and loss. It makes you think about the capacity of human evil and how far you would go for the ones you love. I am not even doing this film justice right now which is why I encourage you to watch it for yourself.

Sincerely,

Mare

Day 4: Love Sick

It’s been an embarrassingly long time since I’ve posted and I’m sorry for that. Now that I’m back at school, there’s a lot on my plate and the free time I have I devote to my friends. It’s really important for me to spend time with them because they’re the only family I have here and I really rely on them for support.

That being said, I’ve got a little time before my next class and I’m feeling inspired to write!

Recently, I’ve been super sick. I have a cold and my stomach has been really upset and it’s just been an all around bad time. But my friends have been taking care of me and last night they gave me a wonderful surprise.

I have this good friend, Rob. He was my student leader on a service trip I went on over spring break. We got really close really fast but he graduated in the Spring so he’s been busy being a post grad. I got to see him when I was in Austin back in July and it was great catching up. I actually convinced him to move to DC so the day I flew out of BWI, he landed there to start his post grad life. I’m so happy for him and proud of him for taking such a big step and being a little adult but I miss him a lot, especially because he’s in my hometown and snapchats me a lot from places that I know and love.

Anyway, last night, I was at Tori and Emily’s because they insisted on taking care of my sick self. I was texting Rob too because he came up in conversation and I wanted him to know that I loved and missed him. The three of us were watching a movie when someone knocked on the door. Tori had mentioned that her friend was stopping by to pick up a book for class so I thought nothing of it. But when she opened the door, there was Rob with some ginger ale and a smug little smile (he was super proud of himself and the fact that my jaw was on the floor told him I genuinely didn’t expect it).

He’s in Austin for a week or so to take care of some things and go to ACL fest and when he heard I was sick he came over to surprise me and I really couldn’t be happier. I was having such a bad time but that just made my day. Sometimes all you need to feel better is a good hug from a great friend.

Sincerely,

Mare

Day 3: Dying to be Thin

Today in my adolescent psych class, it was brought to my attention that there is a recent movement regarding the promotion of eating disorders. Typically called “pro-ana” (anorexia) or “pro-mia” (bulimia), this movement is an outpouring of information about how to get away with an eating disorder. Many supporters veil it by saying they are supporting those who suffer from eating disorders but encourage them to seek treatment in their own time. In reality, they are merely, providing tips for people to continue harming themselves.

This frustrates and disgusts me. As someone who has dealt directly with numerous cases of bulimia and anorexia, I have to say that I am appalled by this movement. Mostly, I am shocked that the biggest promoters of it believe they are doing good. There is nothing good about an eating disorder. When you have one, it takes away everything from you and threatens your life. When a loved one has one, you constantly feel helpless and defeated. It’s a serious psychological disorder that needs to be addressed.

The only thing I will concede, is that treatment is best sought when the victim is ready to be treated. That is the time when the victim has reached the point where they understand the severity of their disease and are ready to change their ways. That being said, a victim will oftentimes push themselves to the point where the decision to get treated has to be made for them. In these cases, although they may not want it, treatment is particularly dire. If left unattended for much longer, the victim could potentially die. Even though they are resisting treatment, happiness and normalcy are achievable and they need to be reminded of that. Your life does not have to end with your eating disorder.

Eating disorders are a serious issue and need to be treated as such. If you or a loved one is suffering from an eating disorder, seek help immediately. The National Eating Disorders Association is an excellent resource to utilize. Here is a link to their help site but you can also follow it to get more information about eating disorders: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/find-help-support

Help and happiness are possible.

Sincerely,

Mare