BlogHer is promoting Body Image to a main category menu item on the site. Part of this campaign includes a “letter to my body” event for bloggers. I’m participating in that here and am making an exception to the 50 word rule. This is the 50+ rule day.
Dear Body,
You’re feeling a bit groggy this morning, I realize that. Sinus congestion seems to be slowing you down and coffee isn’t working as usual. But I’m still expecting you to carry me through the day, as you always do.
We’ve been through a lot of years together, you and me. You just keep marching along, full of energy and willing to go, go, go. I thank you for that. I’ve been really happy about all the things you help me to do.
Once, a long time ago, when we were in our late 20s, I thought you let me down. Remember that hysterectomy way back then? I was pretty upset with you about that, but over the years I’ve realized that I have more energy than just about everyone and you’ve stood by me steadfastly in every other way.
Oh, I know we’re slowing down a bit. Not so limber, not so agile, not so sharp at remembering details. It’s funny how good you are at remembering HTML and CSS, but forgetting other stuff like the word “balcony” or the year you moved to the house in Pflugerville. Sometimes I appreciate your selective concentration on certain subjects, and sometimes I think maybe it would be nice to know what year it was when we moved to Pflugerville.
We’re going to make it to Alaska one of these days, aren’t we body? Yep, I knew it. It’s on our list of places to see. Yeah, we’ve had some good trips together, I know. Taking the kids to Disney Land and Disney World. Six Flags–boy that was exciting. We’ve been to a lot of states in the U.S. Slept on rocks in a tent by a Rocky Mountain stream. Stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon and stared in wonder. Wandered in the Smithsonians. That was great stuff. And don’t forget that dream of a lifetime trip to New Zealand. Why, we even climbed all over Italy and Greece, which we never expected to do.
I appreciate the way you don’t mind being alone with me. You’re willing to sit and read for a hour, or sit and write (try to write!) something for a while. And you’re willing to jump up and go for a walk or do some Tai Chi. Oy, but you love that Tai Chi. Since I started letting you do Tai Chi again, you’ve been less achy and a lot stronger. And your balance is getting better. I know I haven’t always been the best about letting you exercise. I’ll take you for a walk to Whole Foods. After we get there I’ll fill you with an apple bear claw instead of something more nutritious, but you walk me back home anyway. I know I send you mixed messages like that, but you keep on going anyway. If I treated you a little better, I’m sure you’d reward me my reducing my extra fat and lowering my blood pressure. I know I’m always promising you better treatment, but you have to admit all those walks and Tai Chi classes haven’t hurt. I’ll try to keep my attitude right so we can keep on doing those good things.
It’s been fun chasing around with the grandkids, too. I know you like that. Why don’t we just stay well so we can watch them grow through high school and college, too? I think we can do it. By golly, body, let’s do it!
Love,
Virginia
Please leave a comment with your 50+ words on the topic “letter to my body.”
I love your positive attitude.
Dear body,
Why is it you fail me at the worst times? I feed and water you. Bathe you. I ask for litle in return, since I mostly let you rest in a chair. But tonight I really needed you, and you failed me. Now she’s mad at me. Or possibly hurt. Or depressed. Women are strange like that.
You did fine to start, considering all the smoking we do together. Sweaty gasping is actually a good thing for this activity. Grunts and moans are fine too, by the way. You took charge, rose to the occassion, and made me proud. Until you couldn’t deliver an orgasm.
I know, I know. It’s the first time you’ve tried with her body so maybe it was a little awkward. The thing is, she’s upset because you couldn’t finish up. I’m truly not upset about that, just that she’s upset. So do me a favor, and let’s pull through to the finish line next time. Assuming there is one.
Giving you an A for effort,
Wailin
Great letter. I grew up in Georgetown. I can’t believe how much things have changed down there. Oh, I would love to go to New Zealand.
My dear body,
All through our formative years I struggled with the fact that you didn’t look like the rest of the girls I went to school with. I couldn’t see past the small waists and short skirts of the in-crowd. Those girls embodied what almost every schoolgirl aspires to be: beautiful, popular, and desired by everyone else. I judged our worth based on other people’s perceptions of us. If one mean boy in gym class thought you were big and clumsy, then that must be what everyone thought of us. I spent years focusing on what was “wrong” with us, and never took the time to examine all the things we had to be proud of.
About a year ago we sat down together and took a look at our life in an attempt to determine where I had gone wrong. Imagine my distress when I found that almost every decision I had made regarding my future was based on what I thought people expected of me, and not what I wanted for myself. From that point on, I took the time to discover and love you from the inside out. I learned to embrace being an individual: to value the things I hold dear, and not worry about the rest. To live for the sake of love, and not what a magazine tells us we should strive for.
Only in these past few years have I learned to appreciate you and embrace the features that distinguish us from the crowd of Barbie-wannabes. While I realize that I’m still very young, and have a great deal left to learn, it makes me even more grateful to have discovered the path towards fulfillment and happiness. I love you, body, and I will do everything in my power to keep us healthy and happy from now on.
Love, Gina
Gina,
Are you a member of BlogHer? I’m sure that your wonderful post should be among those in the Letter to My Body section. If you aren’t already a registered BlogHer member, may I have permission to link to your comment here from BlogHer?
Dear body,
I have so many things to say to you, and about you, but words fail me today. Will you just read Virginia’s and Gina’s posts? They are both wonderfully written. A great, interesting read for a Sunday morning!
No, I don’t belong to BlogHer, but you absolutely may have my permission to link my comment, thank you for asking!
http://jessicaensminger.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPart_BlogPart=blogview&_c=BlogPart&partqs=amonth%3d4%26ayear%3d2008
http://jessicaensminger.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!BBAEDA42596EA5F7!390.entry?&_c02_vws=1