I was gulping down a glass of water after I gave a speech at the 2013 National Eating Disorder Association Conference in Washington DC. It was a really rewarding talk about my experience as a human being suffering with an eating disorder in the midst of Operation Iraqi Freedom III as a Marine Corps Engineer Officer. I spoke of leadership, growth, recovery, and how enriched my life has become. I spoke of how my choice to get help was a turning point in my life that took me down the path of growth and self-acceptance that I am on now.
As I was gulping down the water, reminiscing and taking a moment to feel grateful when a rather short fellow with glasses approached me and thanked me for my service and the talk. He mentioned he was moved and that if interested he would like me to consider writing a memoir.
Of course, it was a thought, but with what time? I had just started my own business at the time and I was already working on a book with some colleagues from the Marines that was extremely meaningful but not turning out as planned. It was a project that allowed me to invite those who inspired me to write their story as part of an anthology. I didn’t realize through this process, I also invited my big heart into the lives of my friends who suffered, dared, and triumphed greatly. I suffered with them while writing this book. I healed with them while writing this book. But, I also suffered trying to please each and every one of them wanting them to know their story mattered and it would get out there in the world so help me God. Because of this my focus in the business I started and loved suffered, my ability to be present with my new husband, Per suffered, and in the end, my friendships with these women. I had to let it go, and with it I started to let go of the people pleaser and the need to hold onto friends who were not really good friends back. I started to make more time for myself and value my time like it was gold, not inviting new projects, appointments, or entertaining friendships who were not positive. I cleaned house!
Flash forward a half a year, I decided to work with this Alan fellow who was persistent that my story would touch lives. Working with Alan over the past year in a half has been extremely life giving and inspiring for me. I have been able to uncover to someone I trust, pieces of my life that have changed me forever and I KNOW others will relate too.
So here is my interview with my co-author of my upcoming memoir, WARRIOR.
- What is a life changing experience in your life?
Getting to write this book, Warrior has been life changing. I had a dear friend who suffered from an eating disorder and I knew I had to write about it. I knew I somehow had to write about this. I am a writer, this is who I am, and because this person was so important to me, I didn’t know how to write about them. When I heard you speak, Theresa, I was taken by your experience along with everyone else in the crowd. I felt it was a way to connect your incredible story to my own friend’s story and experience and therefore effect lives. Stories change lives. In order to truly tell your story Theresa I felt I needed to have this heart felt connection to my friend to really do it justice.
I felt that writing this book was a have too and something our world needs to hear. Positivity, resilience while and through suffering with an eating disorder, loss, war, stress, and body dimorphism that EVERYONE can relate to somehow. I had to write this book.
- How would you define yourself as a warrior?
Being a warrior means you have both inner and outer strength. Every human has this strength, it is whether they tap into it or not. Some people show off their outer strength, others their inner, and others both!
I am not afraid to ask for help or take risks. I do not mind going too far, and do not like playing it safe. Trust talent, trust skill, and go for it. You cannot be afraid to fail in this business or succeed.
Being a writer is very much like being a successful Marine. Surround yourself by a good team. I write, someone else published, lands the book deal, markets etc. We work together for one cause- to sell books that inspire the heck out of people.
- Why WARRIOR?
When I write a book, I do a lot of research. I read a lot about Iraq and eating disorders for this book. One of the books I read was Thank you for Your Service, by David Finkel. One of my favorite quotes from this book, “it takes the courage and strength of a warrior to ask for help.”
Also, when I looked up book titles on amazon, I was shocked that there were no books titled Warrior.
- What made you want to be a writer?
I wanted to be a writer from the time I was ten years old. I wrote my first book in the 6th grade which was a detective story. It wasn’t published. I was always a big reader; reading was the entertainment that turned me on the most. When I was in the second grade we lived in Massachusettes, had huge stairs outside our home. I invited kids in the neighborhood to come listen to me tell stories. I did this every day. Yes I am totally geeky!
- What makes you tick Alan?
Writing gets me tick. Love what I do. My life make me tick, my wife, my kids, my work make me tick. I would never write a book that I would not put my name on it. It’s a question of pride. I am a simple home body. I don’t travel, do not drive a sports car, I love being home and I love food.
- If you could have one super power what would it be?
I would have excellent vision and would be able to SEE in every sense. Not look, but see things in a way that other people can’t see. I was blessed that I saw this as a story when I heard you speak.
- What do I admire most about Alan?
I admire his patience and encouragement. He helped me understand HOW my story would change lives down the very politics of writing my story. He didn’t push me, rather let me come to the decision myself.
Alan is a friend, fellow warrior, and now a co-author or our very near future (April 5th 2016 by Harper One, a division of Harper Collins) book WARRIOR. This will be one of the most read, eye opening, very real, and highly influential books of its time!