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Ever since I joined BlogHer a week ago, I have been fascinated by the Letters to my Body segment. Women from of all ages and walks of life seemed to be taking the initiative and writing a letter to that often despised, hard working shell that our spirit calls home.
I have to admit, I find it a bit difficult to write a letter to myself. I am not the type of person that typically talks aloud to myself, or really "chats" with or praises my body regularly. Especially not on a blog with scores of readers! But maybe that needs to change........
Here is my attempt at a Letter to my Body:
Dear Body-
Hi. You might not know me that well, but I am Christie. You are the exterior of my being, the thing that does miraculous things every day. I know- I have watched the Discovery Channel!! Here is a little reminder of what we have been through together, and how I truly feel about you.
When I was born, you were surprisingly healthy, especially considering the hardships on you at that time. Nutrition was not being delivered to you in the womb, and the doctors were worried. But there you were anyway! You survived!
In the baby/toddler years, things were great. My mom nourished you with the healthiest of food- organic baby food, and later, fresh organic meats, veggies, and fruits. So you found it easier to work and provide the best for me.
Then came the lovely pre-K/Kindergarden years. You were introduced to all sorts of completely delicious but very unhealthy foods. Cupcakes, brownies, cookies, cake, ice cream, candy; you still managed to process the endless amount of sugar fed to you and presented to me, even after not being used to it all. I am proud of you.
It went downhill from there, I am afraid. Really non-nourishing food at school, emotional eating at home, and sadness as I went through difficult school years. I didn't neccessarily treat you the best, despising your size and differences from everyone else. I am sorry for that.
Then there was a turn-around- at 11 years old, I lost 30 pounds from your 4'9 frame. This turned out to be good for you too, dear body-less loathing directed at you, and more health and ease to function.
Now, I still struggle to treat you well. As I am bombarded with Victoria's Secret catalogs (they keep sending them!!), fashion mags with flawless and completely airbrushed models on the cover (not to mention the endless barrage on TV- won't even go into that) I feel some genuine dislike for you sometimes. It is nothing personal; now that I think about it, there is nothing remotely WRONG with you. You digest whatever I eat on a daily basis; your strong athletism carries me through my daily activities with relative ease, and you don't look half bad either.
I find it hard to remember this last truth, but it is what I should think always. My legs are strong enough to skate REALLY well and do several sports, My arms can help me lift myself in the air for figure skating jumps, do push ups ,and other wonderful things. And though I may not have a carved out a coveted six-pack (yet!) I have a strong core and can do many things others can't. So this is truly a blessing.
So Body, even though you may not match the airbrushed perfection on magazines and television, the face on you may not resemble _____________ (fill in the blank with any supermodel/actress/other gorgeous person) you are good enough. No, you are PERFECT the way you are.
One last reminder- the people that love and respect you (and the essence you embody) are not concerned about your hip size or what your face looks like- they love you because you are you. It is the inside, and not the outside, that counts.
Peacefully,
Lake Placid Skater
