Welcome to the blog space of the Looking Glass community, where we post our own and others’ reflections and perspectives on eating disorder issues, journeys of recovery, and other helpful tips and tools.
Looking Glass Foundation receives a $20,000 grant from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund
The Looking Glass Foundation is pleased to receive a $20,000 Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund grant to support enhancement programs at the Looking Glass Residence, a 14-bed facility where youth aged 16 to 24 receive care from medical and mental health professionals.
"Much like the broken pottery, recovering from an eating disorder is a remarkable journey of piecing our lives back together. It is a journey of challenge, discovery, and growth, as we gain a new perspective on life. When I was ill, I didn’t realize how I would come to appreciate the lessons my eating disorder would teach me. My illness and recovery are now beautiful reminders of the path I have traveled, and the lessons I have learned are gifts that flow through my life."
The Looking Glass Foundation aligns with the recommendations put forward by the Canadian Eating Disorder Alliance and we are pleased to see the strategy receiving media coverage, which helps to increase awareness about eating disorders and the gaps in treatment that are evident across Canada.
"Hello! My name is Sydney and I couldn’t be more excited to join the Looking Glass Community as the new Volunteer & Program Coordinator. I first learned about the Looking Glass Foundation when I was designing a hypothetical eating disorder treatment program for my undergraduate thesis, and three years later, after completing a Masters of Science in Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition, here I am!"
"The difficulty was that, once the glory period of initial strength and motivation passed, I was left in what felt like purgatory between suffering and recovering. The darkness begins to welcome you and it feels comfortable and familiar. Don't let the familiarity persuade you to believe that this is where you're supposed to be, that this is the destination, because when you get to recovery, you realize just how close you were after all."
"Recovery then, asks us to imagine ourselves outside of our struggles and to begin building an identity that is broader than our eating disorder. It is an enormous, but critical task in recovery and life in general. None of us are single stories or solely defined by one aspect of our being. It does not matter how small your life may feel at the moment, each one of us is still far more than a single, or simple, story."
In this blog post, Kat shares her reflections on leaving this role and the importance of being honest with yourself about what you need and want out of your life, and finding joy and peace in the simple things.
Recovery is hard, but it’s made harder when we tell ourselves it won’t happen. Holding onto the belief that full recovery is possible and reminding yourself that there will be good days and bad days gives purpose to our struggle. We can’t promise it will be easy, only that it will be worth it.
"The welcoming and kind energy the Looking Glass fosters as an organization is the type of essence I hope to bring as a future counsellor. The team at the Foundation is warm and passionate, and I believe this is how they genuinely help those in the eating disorder community to recover."
Looking Glass Foundation respectfully acknowledges that our work takes place on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
For resources and information
about eating disorders contact the Looking Glass Foundation:
