“In moments of great fear, we often forget how powerful we are. When we face a health challenge, we forget to say “Hello, beloved body. What do you need?” When life offers us loss or uncertainty, we forget to ask “Well, now, what am I going to make of this?” Such questions have a transformative power. They activate our curiosity, which cuts through our fear and dispels the idea that we’re helpless. They reconnect us to the life force that is living inside us—a life force that is, essentially, love.”—Gladys McGarey
I spent years being such a bitch to my body. Negative thoughts, negative words, disordered eating patterns, exercise as punishment, sleep deprivation and toxic overconsumption. Constantly begrudging my body and abusing it to make it something that I thought I wanted or, worse, something someone else wanted it to be.
It’s taken me 40 years to think of my body as a friend, a confidante, a sister I’ve always wanted. It’s taken me 40 years to realize that all this time I could’ve been speaking to her like someone I loved and cared for—expressing pride for her accomplishments, gratitude for what we experienced and love for all the ways she’s enabled me to live this life. I could have spoken and directed thoughts with compassion and love instead of constant disappointment and criticism.
Hard workouts, the taste of fresh tomatoes and basil, the feel of sun on my skin, growing, birthing and breastfeeding my babies, long runs, being able to take in all the tiny details of my children, the ache of hard work, kissing, walking to places I want to go, making love, riding a bike, tightly embracing the people I love.
Not every physical endeavour feels good. There have been so many times amidst pain that I have repeated, “I love this, I love this, I love this” in an effort to rewire my brain to believe that I love the pain of physical exertion…Did it work? Maybe a little. But what if, instead of “I hate this pain,” the thought shifted to, “Look at what you can do and feel and withstand, beloved body… impressive. And thank you for taking me on this ride.”
I will call my body my beloved because that is what she is—beloved…dearly loved. Rather than ridicule her, I will thank her for all the physical experiences I’m afforded because of her strength, resiliency and capacity. And I will embody what it means to care for this body that houses my soul so that I can live out my purpose here.
What a shift in perspective to love her rather than loathe her. To feel grateful for all of the miraculous adaptations taking place in every passing moment just so I can live another day and experience this life in a thousand ways with all of my senses.
MSMAMACHIC 