Love Letter To My Body

This is homework from my therapist. She also said she wanted to see my hate letter to Rebecca (she's curious. It made me laugh. If you guys want to check it out, I think the post is titled "Regarding A Heart Like Yours"). You know, I may also write a reciprocal hate letter to my body. We'll see. Anyway, here goes.

Dear body,

Your stomach sticks out and your thighs are too big and your skin is riddled with acne and your hair is greasy and flat.

Oh, yeah. Love letter...

That was a legit mistake that I decided to leave in the post because I found it funny. Lets start over...

Dear body,

The other day when you were doing yoga, I was impressed at how you were able to balance into and hold grasshopper pose. We've been working on that one for a while now, and it was nice to be so close. And to be close to the flexibility level required by that other pose that I don't know the name of. You have good balance and flexibility and strength and can center yourself to do advanced yoga poses and I appreciate you for it. You are stronger than you look.

I also love that you let me dance with my friends and run around and act silly. You have light "happy feet" (as I was once called) and an energetic spring, and for that I am grateful.

You have a nice smile that people see and comment on. And you like to smile. You smile often, and everyone likes a happy person. You eyes as well draw attention and exclamations of "they're so blue!" when the light is right and you're in the right mood. Your mother bought you a flannel shirt this Christmas and said she had thought about keeping it, but knew she needed to give it to you because it matched your striking eyes.

You're not always the healthiest, body, but you are strong. You endure pain and you always seem to emerge on the other side with all limbs attached. You are the definition of "takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'", body, and for that I admire you. Sometimes you're licked by factors outside of our contol. Sometimes I am your attacker. But somehow you love me anyways and are still good to me and serve me well.

I'm sorry I treat you the way I do, body. But often I don't take the time to stop and appreciate what it is you do for me. I pick at you for your flaws and imperfections and for how you don't align with my definition of "ideal". I compare you to others and judge you by unrealistic standards.

I guess it's not fair to you, really.

But, at least for these few moments, let me take the time to appreciate you for what you are and love you for what you have given me. You've done me well, body. And for that I am grateful.

Cori