Apologizing to our bodies
Not to get too serious or Debbie Downer on you but today, in the Jewish religion, it's Yom Kipper - the Day of Atonement. Basically, since we don't have Confession, all of of the absolving gets packed into a 24-hour period, during which people fast (as in no food or drink), get dressed up and hightail it to temple to think about what they could've done better in the previous year and how to improve themselves in the year to come. As for me, I'm sitting in the Detroit airport, moping because my luggage is missing and what will I wear tonight?? Nobody else in my family wears size 10 shoes and I hardly think yoga pants and flip flops and appropriate attire for the holiest day of the year.
Anyhow, instead of making this a religious blog - but keeping in the theme of inner reflection - I thought I'd bring up this little exercise that I've done in body image workshops before. It's called Dear Body and what you do is write - pen and paper or type - a letter to your body, apologizing for the ways you've mistreated it (smoking, harsh dieting, stress); emotionally abused it ("Uch, you're so fat!" or "I hate my thighs."), etc, and thank it for all of the wonderful talents it possesses and jobs it allows you to do. It's an interesting challenge to pose to yourself and I find it quite eye-opening to do it in an open forum like this so we can read others' letters (or parts of them) and realize we really are all in this together.
I'll go first:
Dear Body,
I want to take a moment to tell you how sorry I am for all of the years I spent hurting you, denying you food or overworking you, or thinking harsh, unforgiving thoughts about the way you look. You truly have done nothing but be good to me, allowing to me to dance, run, write, hug, spin, travel, laugh and much, much more, but there was definitely a time there when I was horrible to you - pointing out flaws and imperfections which, in reality, were simply you being you. I'm sorry, tush, for always turning around and staring at you in mirror, thinking evil thoughts. I have been trying to be kinder to you, welcoming the curvier shape you've taken on as of late. And I'm sorry for all the times I made you get on a scale like a piece of meat. You are more than just a number, and shouldn't be subjected to that kind of public humiliation.
I want to thank my thighs for propelling me along the Chicago lakefront. Thank you arms, for getting stronger and stronger, to the point where I can now do 10 full push-ups - a longtime goal. In general, thank you for your height - you allow me to not only stand out in a crowd, but to reach things on tall shelves and see over peoples' heads at concerts and movies. Smile, it was rough there for a few years during the Braces Era, but we survived, and now, you are a trademark.
Body, I will continue to strive to be gentler on you and more appreciative of all you allow me to do. If you bloat up one day, or develop a bruise, I'll take it as a sign that maybe I should be drinking some more water or watch where
I'm going. I can't be perfect, but I will try to be better.
Love,
Me
OK...your turn...
xoxoxo
Leslie
Comments
I love the idea of this. It is very cathartic, it really helps to get thoughts written out on paper. Thanks for the tip. I am going to try and do a letter every 3 months or so. By seeing the negative things you do to the body, it helps you to be better to it. Thanks
Thank you for posting that. I think I'm going to do one of my own on my blog.
Beautiful sentiments! A wise friend taught me to thank my body after every yoga class. I say namaste to the my teacher, my fellow students and my body for doing all that hard and empowering work. Hope the luggage turns up!
Ducky - your letter touched me deeply. Thanks for including the link to your fantastic blog, www.creamynougatlair.com !
x,
Leslie
I love your letter, Leslie! (and I had posted on this wonderful idea of yours before). It's funny--I guess it's letter-writing week, since I just yesterday posted a different kind of writing activity. The power of the pen. . .
