Karen Carpenter
Guess what … it’s September … and do you know what that means?! It’s officially FALL!!! I know others may disagree but in my book … today is the first day of Fall!! So happy Fall everyone!! ;)
Ok - so moving on from that. I wanted to write about Karen Carpenter - her life and legacy and why everyone remembers Karen Carpenter's tragic death.
Just in case some of you don’t know, Karen Carpenter was a singer who sang with her brother back in the good old days. My mom grew up loving her music and passed that love of their music and harmonies on to us. My sister Jessica especially is a huge fan of hers. The Carpenter’s music and arrangements and sibling harmony has also inspired us as a music group quite a bit.
Sadly, Karen suffered with anorexia and eventually died from anorexia. This was such a shocker and a tragedy among the nation. It was major news as she was a beloved singer and … because she died from an eating disorder.
As a singer and as someone who struggled with anorexia myself her story has always impacted me. A lot of times after our shows, when I have shared with people about my story and struggle with anorexia, people come up to me and ask me if I know Karen Carpenter and about her tragic death.
When I was anorexic I remember looking up news stories of her, studying about her and her eating disorder, watching performances of her and seeing how thin she was. And I would watch to see as she grew thinner and sicker. It scared me. It scared me a lot because I would watch those interviews and performances of her and I saw the same delusion that was killing her … in me.
She couldn’t see how thin and sick she was … but I could. I could see how sick she was and that she was clearly dying. I knew that if I could see it in her … that’s what my family was seeing in me. I couldn’t see my size. I only saw how big I was and how much I wasn’t good enough.
The realization that I was struggling with the same deadly disorder that killed Karen Carpenter left me with a pit of fear in my stomach that made me utterly sick. And yet, it was never a feeling that made me sick enough to give up or get over my anorexia. It took a loooooong road to recovery which you can read about either in my book or in some of my other blogs on the website.
To show you even more how twisted and terrifying anorexia is - even feeling as scared as I did when watching Karen Carpenter, I remember feeling excited because I was struggling with something that a famous person died from. I was struggling from the same thing and that gave me a certain amount of attention. There was this tinge of excitement that filled me because I was like Karen Carpenter. She got attention from her eating disorder and so was I.
That is how frightening, disgusting, appalling and how evil anorexia is.
But let me take it further and share with you what I find even more frightening and downright horrifying. Karen Carpenter's story stands out and her death is remembered … why? Because eating disorders were not so common back then. They just weren’t. Yes, of course eating disorders have always been around. But look here at what google says, ”that anorexia has increased by 36 percent every five years since the 1950s.” And it also says that nearly 30 million Americans suffer from eating disorders.
We live in a day where we have a pandemic of eating disorders. Back then it was not so prevalent so that’s why we remember Karen Carpenter and her tragic death. But the sad thing is, it doesn’t stand out anymore when someone has an eating disorder because it is so common… but that doesn’t take away from the severity of the pandemic!
That is what I find so alarming. Eating disorders are now so common and it truly breaks my heart. Why do you think that is? I really should go into a whole other blog post about this but I will give you my two top reasons. Diet culture and the power of the visual. We have been ruined as a culture thanks to diets. But how did they reel us in … the power of the visual.
Quick disclaimer: If you have to be on a diet for your health, then what I just said doesn't apply to you. If you went on a diet in the past and it was the thing that changed your life and brought you to recovery, then what I just said doesn't apply to you. If you love diets and love doing them and they work for you, then what I just said doesn’t apply to you. I know many people have used diets to help turn their life around and so what I just said doesn't apply to you because if diets have worked for you in the past then I am all for that and am totally supportive of that!
It’s all in the image. It used to be only flashed in our faces in magazines, then they got us with the tv and then they killed us with the phones. To where now we have images flashing in our faces 24/7. And all these images send us one message … “You’re not good enough” … so they show you what you “should” be and how you “should” look. So therefore, let's go on a diet to fix you. And for the record, diets destroy you in countless ways, physically, emotionally and mentally.
And that is why eating disorders are so common and prevalent in our day. But as I said earlier … the fact it’s now so common doesn't take away from the severity of the pandemic.
I know some of you don’t even know who Karen Carpenter is - but even if you don’t remember her … remember this. You are good enough … today. Beware of the power of the visual and be careful with the lie that quietly whispers you're not good enough. Because those four words can send your life spiraling downward into numerous different problems and disorders.
You are good enough … today. God loves you as you are right now. I want to end with one of my favorite hymns. You don’t have to read every verse … but I think it will encourage you if you do. These words reassure me and I hope it reassures you of just how valuable you are to God and how much He loves you - and all you have to do is come just as you are.
1.“Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
2. Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
3. Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
4. Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
5. Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!”
~ Natalie