Life Without Jenni
All of us have a hero. Somebody we aspire to be like; someone whom we admire greatly for their qualities or achievements. My hero is Jenni Schaefer. Jenni is a young woman recovering from both bulimia and anorexia. She is also the author of the best-selling books Life Without Ed and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me. I have never met Jenni, and I have never had a conversation with her, but she has influenced me in ways I cannot yet fully grasp. She inspires me everyday. Through her advice and words of encouragement, she has provided me with hope, even in the most difficult of times. Although Jenni’s advice applies mainly to those battling eating disorders, she can be seen as a true hero and an inspiration to all because of her message to move past difficulties in life and live every moment to it’s fullest.
To begin with, Jenni Schaefer should be recognized for her exceptional courage, bravery and determination. “Jenni dove headfirst into the work of recovery from her eating disorder…that first night, Jenni was ready; Jenni was determined,” said Thom Rutledge, Jenni’s therapist. Facing an eating disorder takes a tremendous amount of courage and bravery, as with any struggle in life. At times it gets tiring; people give up. One of the reasons I admire Jenni is because she never gave up. She was “committed to staying on the path to recovery and never looking back, “ said Thom. When I was hospitalized for my eating disorder, my therapist suggested that I read Jenni’s book Life Without Ed. After reading the book, we came up with the acronym “W.W.J.D.” or “what would Jenni do?” When I’m feeling depressed, “W.W.J.D.” helps me to remind myself that I’m not alone and there is hope. I remind myself that Jenni struggled too. She stumbled, she tripped, and she fell on her face. But she can be regarded as a hero because she always got back up.
In addition, many recognize Jenni Schaefer for the hope and encouragement she provides. For instance, she offers hope to...