Be Thankful For Your Body

Women are professionals at being critical.  I think it must be planted somewhere deep within our DNA maybe between the genes that giveus our mothering instinct and chocolate cravings.  Unfortunately that critical gene tends to turn us against ourselves.  That;s right men, even though you may be tired of the nagging about picking up your dirty socks and chewing with your mouth open, we as women are far, far more critical of ourselves than we are of others.  (I know.  Hard to believe, but trust me on this.)

And where are we more critical of oursleves than in the subject of our bodies?  I don't care how fit or buff you may be, if you are a woman, you probably find something to criticize when you look in the mirror. 

My butt is too big.

My butt is too small.

I look like Jaba the Hut.

I look like a bean pole.

And of course....everything in between.

I'm terribly guilty of it, too.  After all, it's there planted in my DNA.  But in the spirit of Thanksgiving and in an attempt to combat unhealthy body image, I challenge you to take some time to make a list of all the wonderful things about your body, a list of gratitude for all that's right with you.  Don't you dare put one thing on there that is remotely negative.  This exercise is about loving your body and appreciating all it does for you.

So here is my own personal list of things about my body for which I am thankful...

1. I am thankful for my five senses.  I am blessed to have eyes that see, ears that hear, a keen sense of smell, skin to feel, and a tongue to taste all of the delicious tastes in the world (especially chocolate cupcakes!).  Not everyone is so blessed.

2.  I am thankful for strong arms.  I can still lift my youngest child and carry her upstairs to bed should she fall asleep on the couch, or heavy boxes, or beat my insanely strong dog at tug-of-war.

3. I am thankful that my internal organs know what to do without me having to think about it.  Can you imagine if you had to consciously think about your heart beating or breathing or digesting.  There wouldn't be much time to think about anything else.

4. I'm thankful for my hips.  They are wider now than before I had children, but they have made a handy little seat for babies and toddlers. 

5. I'm thankful for legs that can run. I know that I have the ability to run should my life (or the life of one of my children) depended on it. 

6. I'm thankful for my feet, feet that can walk, and kick, and balance in tree pose, and all the other marvelous things that feet can do.

7. I'm thankful for my toes for my feet would be almost useless without them.  Plus they are handing for wiggling into cool summer grass, picking up dirty socks from the floor without bending over, and petting the dog while my hands are busy with holding a good book.

8. I'm thankful for my hands that are so incredibly intricate.  Hands are fascinating things.  I can type this blog entry, play the piano, tie a shoe, tickle my children, stir cookie dough, the list could go on forever.

9. I'm thankful that I can bend and squat and twist without pain.

10. I'm thankful that I can breathe deeply.  My mother was recently diagnosed with COPD.  She has trouble breathing at all and needs to carry an inhaler with her everywhere.  I'll take some extra deep breaths for her.