An Expression of Gratitude to My Body
A goal that I decided last minute to add to the Better Your Life Challenge was to sing the praises of my body. It is something that we as humans just don’t do enough. Through my continual transformation, I am gaining a deep and profound love for myself and a greater appreciation of my body. This body of mine has carried around a dope and loving soul, if I should say so myself. It has withstood pain, pleasure, trauma, self-inflicted abuse, fertility issues, childbirth, stillbirth and pregnancy loss with grace. My body has kept going despite being tired, overworked, underfed and neglected. And for the most part, anything I set my mind to do my body usually follows along. Not always happily but she’s a true ride or die.
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Through my continual transformation, I am gaining a deep
and profound love for myself and a greater appreciation of my body.
For almost 44 years now, my body has done some amazing things. Throughout all stages of my life, she has proved to be strong and capable of accomplishing great feats, overcoming immense pain and heartbreak. She has overcome being told that she would most likely never have children. Proving naysayers wrong by bringing forth life fourteen (yes 14) times and going on to have five beautiful children. This glorious temple of mine has endured back to back to back heartbreaking losses, healing and strengthening herself each and every time. She proved to be a nurturing vessel for carrying my children and birthing them efficiently, quickly and naturally. And for that, I am grateful.
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. . .she has proved to be strong and capable of accomplishing great feats,
overcoming immense pain and heartbreak.
There are many times that I have called her names like ugly, fat, lazy, horrible and stupid. I have been embarrassed of her. I have criticized and shamed her. I have tried to force her into conventional and unrealistic standards. To be honest, I have been a real bitch to her throughout my life, AND YET she remains resilient, eager to do the bidding of my mind. That is true, unconditional love and I realized that my body deserved the same.
Unfortunately, most of us are programmed almost from an early age to think we should look a certain way in order to fit in with societal norms. It seriously messes with the pschye of so many people, especially women. Let’s break free of that bondage that keeps us from loving our bodies in every shade, shape, form, stage, and size they may take. Our bodies are wonderous creations that allow our souls to take shape. We should love and cherish them for that alone.
I am challenging myself to adore every inch of my body. From my coily hair that crowns me perfectly like the Queen I am to my size 10 feet that have slipped and stumbled on my path many times, but always regained their footing. My large, almond eyes have given me the sight to behold beauty my mind still cannot comprehend. I have skinny and delicate fingers that have allowed me to caress the softest little cheeks anyone will have the pleasure to touch. My long neck has held my head high. Even when the pressures of the world were upon it, my neck never completely bent in defeat. Can I just say, my body is the shit and no one on this earth can tell me otherwise. And I damn sure will no longer allow someone else’s standard of beauty make me think less of myself.
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Even when the pressures of the world were upon it,
my neck never completely bent in defeat.
Believe me, this is not something that happened overnight. I am still a huge work in progress. I regress and begin to think negative thoughts. This is part of being human and the programming we receive to equate confidence to conceit. In turn, this causes us to self-depreciate ourselves and can lower the view of our self-worth. It can start as simply as deflecting compliments or making negative comments or jokes about ourselves. I had to learn to consciously stop myself from saying something negative whenever I received a compliment. It is freaking HARD. Try it. Next time someone gives you a compliment, really hone in and pay attention to the first thought that comes to mind. Is it to say thank you or of the 101 ways you can divert the attention?
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I had to learn to consciously stop myself
from saying something negative whenever I received a compliment.
It is freaking HARD.
Queens, my hope for you is that you come to love all of you fiercely, fervently and wholeheartedly. That when you look in the mirror you see yourself for the warrior you are, viewing your imperfections as battle scars. Each one telling the tale of your body’s resiliency, of it’s ability to be stretched, bent and compressed but never broken. Your body is a temple housing the divine goddess that is you. Love her, care for her and worship her accordingly.
Be Unapologetically You,
