The biggest influences on my spirituality have been the process of healing from my eating disorder and the people who have been my support during this experience.
I had to admit I couldn't deal with the eating disorder on my own, and ended up spending six months in a treatment center 300 miles from home. There's nothing like six months of introspection to make one question life and death and all that each entails.
While being away from home for so long certainly put a strain on my relationships, it also has brought me closer to some of the most important people in my life. They've shown me compassion, grace and love. They've been a shoulder to cry on. They've been a hand to help me up when I've fallen. They've been a rational voice among the chatter of negative thoughts. They've shown me what it looks like to be loved unconditionally. No strings attached.
All of this has catapulted me from avoiding all notions of faith and spirituality to actively seeking a faith community and defining what spirituality means for me.
