Oh for when treating eating disorders is as easy as a walk in the park

Oh for when treating eating disorders is as easy as a walk in the park

Hello from New York City. Today has been a get-over-the-jetlag-day. Tomorrow the 2014 International Conference on Eating Disorders of the Academy of Eating Disorders begins. Hundreds of people involved in the field of eating disorders are gathering here to learn and be inspired in finding answers and improving treatments of this challenging and serious illness. Already I have met some of these people today, on the eve of the conference, and I feel all safe and cosy, a family-like feel that comes with being surrounded by people ‘who understand’.

As regular readers of my blog know, nature is also a great source of strength and this afternoon I rugged up and went walking through Central Park. This park is a manmade recreational gem, like the soul, of this densely-populated city. The natural treasures I found among the naked but beautiful avenues of trees included a squirrel and a bird with an orange-rust-colorer breast (maybe common in NY but, like the squirrel, not in my corner of the world); on the lake were two large ducks; on the footpath, enough snow to clutch and photograph for my grand children, and I came across plenty of human treasures too – a horse and carriage, ice skaters, and statues of amazing people, including Christopher Columbus and Robert Burns. I arrived back at the conference venue feeling very much alive and at peace with the world. Looking forward to what tomorrow will bring. Oh for the day when treating eating disorders is as easy as a walk in the park.

Enjoy.