Overcomer Merch-NEDA Week 2021

Hello sweet friends!

As many of you may know, February 22-28 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week! It is a week dedicated to raising awareness and helping those whose lives are affected by eating disorders. For the last four years, I’ve battled with anorexia nervosa, you can read more about my story here. It has been the most difficult part of my life, but I am incredibly grateful for the recovery that I’ve experienced and God’s grace in bringing people into my life who help me every day to continue overcoming my disorder. It is my mission to do everything I can to help others who are struggling with these disorders. Each year, I try to do something different to help raise awareness and spread love and hope to other affected by eating disorders. This year, I am selling T-shirts and sweatshirts that say “Overcomer”. You can order HERE!

The National Eating Disorders Association is an incredible organization that works hard to raise awareness, provide resources for patients and families, and save lives. In addition, the Michigan Eating Disorder Alliance is an amazing organization that is focused on prevention and education in Michigan, as well as spreading hope to those who are affected by eating disorders. All my proceeds from the sales of these items will go to these two organizations, and the donation will be matched!

When creating these shirts, I had a few goals in mind. I wanted to create something that could fill three roles for people. 1) To serve as a show of support for family members or friends who are overcoming an eating disorder, 2) To be an encouragement to those who are struggling and a daily reminder that they can overcome their eating disorder, and 3) Something that can be a silent proclamation of an “overcoming moment” for someone who is not ready to share their specific story yet. For the first few years after I started treatment for my eating disorder, I was incredibly private about my story. I didn’t tell anyone except my family members for two years. But, every day, I wore a small necklace with the NEDA logo on it. No one knew what it meant except me, but it was my way of having a silent reminder to myself that I wanted and needed to keep overcoming the struggle that I was facing. So, with this in mind, I wanted these shirts to be something that could serve the same purpose: to be a conversation starter, or just a silent proclamation of the incredible, hard work that you are doing, and the extreme courage that overcoming an eating disorder takes.

In addition, I put an image of a small sprout below the word “Overcomer”, because overcoming an eating disorder, or really any struggle, takes growth. It takes work, courage, and belief in what you know to be true. It’s also a reminder that you’ve gotta “nourish to flourish” 🙂

I send all of my love to every person who’s life is or has been affected by an eating disorder. You are all warriors, and I want to encourage you to keep fighting for as long as it takes. It is HARD to recover from an eating disorder, and it often feels like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, but I promise that if you keep fighting, you will come out on the other side. Lean on those around you, don’t be afraid to seek help, and remember that your worth doesn’t lie in numbers. YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER!

Romans 8:37: “Yet, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Please buy a t-shirt or sweatshirt and help defeat eating disorders this year! Thank you!

XOXO,

Julia, @juliasplate

There are many styles and colors available! Here’s a few examples! You can also click HERE to visit the shop.