Let me make one thing very, very, very clear.

I am not my eating disorder. My mental health does not define me.

Over the last few months, I’ve been writing, sharing stories, and yes even doing podcasts because that’s a thing now, all about my mental health and eating disorder.

In doing so, I’ve found it very easy to fall into a defining category which in turn is giving more control to my ED than it is to me.

But then, someone new came into my life to join Lauren’s inner circle and said something that made my heart melt in the best way:

“I’ve only ever known you as a writer.”

For the first time, I realized even though I had come to this revelation of authenticity and vulnerability, I was still wearing a scarlet letter on my chest for the world to see with instant judgement, good or bad.

When he said that, I was overwhelmed with a fire that made me see that I have the power to define myself however I see fit.

I am not my eating disorder. It does not own me, control me, or define me.

What I am, is a writer, an advocate, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a lover, a fighter, a creative and passionate spontaneous adventure seeker. I am more than a survivor. I’m just like you, an ordinary person with a lot to say about a bunch of stuff and this is how I choose to express it.

So listen up world. Here I am, Lauren Dow in the flesh. A writer, currently working on her very first book. Get it girl.