Today begins my stint of reading and falling in love with your Love Letters to your Body. I've had a couple weeks where I've been battling my own; and reading the letters Dana pointed out to me, I began to see the theme:

The Things We Subject Our Bodies To. and yet they are still there for us.

When Suzanne first began BlogHer's Letter to My Body series, I quickly wrote my own letter and made a number of promises to my body. I'm so glad to have a reason to go back and re-read this! It's been two months since I wrote this; it's time to check in and see if I'm keeping my promises:

You possess a brain still capable of learning new things. I promise to challenge this capability with physical and mental tasks that make this brain grow and live!

I have been ambitious with some of my mental tasks recently. Stepping up to hold (my first) panel discussion and holding it alone may have been more than you should have dealt with. But all those anxiety attacks - even if they were signals of "mental muscle failure," - really just complicated the task. I asked too much and didn't give you enough time (curse my last minute nature). I'm sorry. If I promise to work on things in a slower, longer time frame, and give you enough sleep to process, can we work on doing some more of this? I love it when we were in the moment. Think about it. Because I also promised you:

You possess a voice. I promise to use it for good. And to sing every so often to make it happy.

I see more work, more panels, more writing, more engagement as a way to keep these promises to you. I'll add more planning to the list.

While my recent struggle with my body have been purely a war of wills, others writing their first love letter have much more isnpiring observations.

Tricia Writes had a magical moment in Jamaica:

I remember clearly the very first time I saw you, on a whole, as this magnificent creature. It was in Jamaica - January 2006 - and I was visiting my sister - just so very happy to be there. I was getting ready to sleep and changing into my night clothes and I caught a glimpse of you unclothed. It was as if I was seeing you for the first time. Simply amazing. I think that was the day I fell in love with you - including your stretch marks, and love handles and all the other things most others would consider undesirable. I loved every bit in that moment and that feeling has never left me. You might think differently based on some of the things you've been subjected to since then - but believe me, I do love you.

Ah, the things we subject our bodies to!

NonLinear Girl wrote to ask her body a special favor. Let's all cheer that her body says "yes"!:

The thing is, I am coming to you to ask for help. I am trying again. No, I am not looking forward to the hormones and the stress, but I do want to get pregnant. You did such a good job with the pregnancy last time, I was hoping that you'd be willing to try it again. Just once more. I know it will be hard on you, what with the uterus stretching and increased pressure on the knees. But the labor was short last time, I gave you that, right? Help me with this and I promise not to complain about my hips shifting, or breasts growing then shrinking, or the waddle in my walk that I may never get over. I'll keep you moisturized, and maybe even get a manicure once in a while. What do you say?

Death Chick(k) has put her body through a lot: from too much tequila in Mexico to a motorcycle accident to eighteen mile "fun runs". Read the details in her post; she's hysterical She wants her body to know:

Uh...yeah. So thanks for not killing me back then. Also, thanks for not quitting on me throughout the many abuses I've heaped on you over the years.

...You have equipped me with the energy to properly care for and enjoy my family. I have eyes that see, ears that hear, and a mind that works tolerably well (depending on which of my family or friends you're asking.) Sure, there was that time you threw in a hamstring injury for giggles but now that that's over I think we can be friends again..."

I'll be reading your letters for the next two weeks and choosing a couple to pass on as fantastic reads.I know they are in you! If you've been stuck about what to say, maybe write about the things that you subject your body to (or have in the past) and make some deals (or promises) for how you two will work together in the future. How we can all make friends.

Please use Mr. LInky to ensure we click to your blog to read your letter. I can't wait.