I finished reading Running with Angels last night. Overall, it was an inspiring and motivational book. Parts of it, I couldn’t relate to – such as her age and her love of running – but the years of emotional struggles and turmoil I could definitely identify with. One insight I found especially enlightening. The author had an experience which made her see her body as a separate entity from her”self”. She began to feel compassion toward her body and at the same time, guilt for what she had put it through. She realized that her body really was amazingly resilient and adaptable, and that it had served her well under some very difficult circumstances. She came to the realization that she had to stop hating her body.
This was a new perspective for me, and I had to give it some serious thought. I have often thought, “I hate my body,” when what I really meant was, “I hate how my body looks.” But my appearance is not my body’s fault. That would be like neglecting a car’s maintenance and repairs, then saying you hate the car because it doesn’t run well, or because it is ugly. To a large extent, the car’s performance is a reflection of the care we give it. It’s a simple cause-and-effect relationship. My body is the same way. I can’t fill it with donuts and French fries and expect it to run efficiently or look attractive. So I thought, What if I could talk to my body – just have a conversation with it – what would I say? I think it would go something like this:
Body: How am I doin’? You know very well how I’m doing.
Me: Oh, yeah. I guess I do. Well, um…uh…I just want to, uh….apologize for all the mean things I’ve said about you over the years.
Body: Hmph. You know. . . all I’ve ever done was try to help you.
Me: I know, I know. . .
Body: I’ve been neglected and abused for years, and I still keep going. I’ve given you six healthy children. I’ve suffered through dozens of bouts of the flu, colds, measles, mumps, chicken pox, strep throat, and… and I’ve pulled through all of them…
Me: I know, I know, … I’m sure it’s been very hard on you.
Body: And that’s not even mentioning all the surgeries you’ve put me through. You even removed one of my kidneys, and I’m still working!
Me: I know, . . . you’re right. You’ve been through a lot with me. And you’ve always bounced back, every time.
Body: That’s right. And what do I get in return? Do I get thanks? Do I get respect? Do I get appreciation? No, I get contempt. Mostly, I get neglected.
Me: You’re right, you’re absolutely right….And I feel awful about it. You could have given up several times, but you stuck with me.
Body: Yes, I did.
Me: But, hey – we’ve had some fun together, haven’t we?
Body: Oh, sure, sure. . . it hasn’t all been that bad.
Me: Remember water skiing? That was fun, wasn’t it?
Body: Oh, yeah. . . I was a little sore at first, but I got used to it. Remember how we used to dance?
Me: I sure do. And what about bike riding and swimming? Those were great.
Body: Yeah, they sure were. . .
Me: Yeah, . . .
Body: (*sigh*) Good times, good times. . .
Me: Yeah, well. . . (ahem). . . I just wanted to say that I really do appreciate you, and I hope you’ll forgive me for disrespecting you for so long.
Body: Do you mean it?
Me: Yeah, I really do. I mean, you and I are a team, right? And, I’m going to start treating you better, respecting you more. . .
Body: You mean like last summer when you were eating right and swimming and bike riding?
Me: Right, just like that.
Body: Awesome. Then, I forgive you.
Me: Awesome.
3 comments:
What a wonderful way to think about things. I don't think my body would be as nice to me as yours was to you! :)
~E
You are hilarious (and brave with the sledding)! My body hasn't talked to me in years! We'd sleep in separate rooms if we could!
You are hilarious. Love the conversation...
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