Day 27… November 27
Today I am thankful for my body.
While I have always been grateful for my body on some level, there were times I was perhaps less appreciative of my body.
I spent far too much time finding and focusing on all the “flaws”. I noticed all the things that “should” be different about my body.
I should be stronger.
Why do my teeth seem so disproportionately large? I’m not Julia Roberts so it’s just weird.
I should lose weight.
Why can’t I do the things I used to do?
I should color my hair (but I am too lazy and too cheap for the upkeep that requires).
This scar…….that cellulite……all the wrinkles…..
My eyes don’t work like they used to.
The list could go on and on with limitations and flaws and all the ways I could pick myself apart.
I should also say that none of this was helpful or motivating toward any change. It didn’t lead me to take better care of myself. It mostly left me feeling worse about myself and not appreciating the gift that my body is.
And though it has not been a quick process, I have been able to change the way I view my body in many different ways.
From about junior high on I developed a love for science, specifically biology, microbiology, genetics and heredity, anatomy and physiology, and more recently, neurology.
The human body is full of wonders and mysteries that I have yet to understand. But that is perhaps a topic for a future post.
Today I want to focus on the gratitude I have developed for my body, even with all of its previously perceived flaws.
My body is an amazing feat of science. There are many things that can be studied and understood and we can try to explain but we would fall short.
My body was strong enough to deliver 6 beautiful children into this world. The gift of pregnancy and the opportunity to be a co-creator of another life is nothing short of miraculous.
It is something that for a long time I took for granted. That was until I was actually pregnant with my first. A common test that used to be done at the time came back abnormal for me.
In my studies of science, I wanted to find cures for congenital defects and here I was, now on the receiving end of genetic counseling.
After further testing, it was determined that this pregnancy didn’t show any greater risk of problem. And our son, though a few weeks early, was perfect and healthy. Miraculous.
There are stories of one kind or another with each of my pregnancies….. the breech/emergency c-section …..the one born six weeks early…..the one born after we buried his brother.
And that is just one area of amazingness that is my physical body.
My body, my hands, in particular, have been able to create wonderful things, beautiful things, and practical things…..portraits, scrapbooks, writings, paintings, woodworking items, jewelry, light fixtures, refinished furniture, clothing, blankets, home decor, gifts for family and friends,……..just one area of amazingness.
From about junior high on I developed a love for science, specifically biology, microbiology, genetics and heredity, anatomy and physiology, and more recently, neurology.
I’m Michelle. I am learning how to minimize my overwhelm, perfectionism, and people-pleasing and I am ready to help you do the same. I’m a certified Life Coach and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Come with me and learn how.
My body is an amazing gift and I want to take care of it. I want to appreciate all the wonderful things my body can do. I want to appreciate how my body has gotten me to this point in my life. I want to appreciate the strength and endurance my body is capable of.
The past year I have been able to develop and appreciate the strength and endurance that my body is capable of. My first exposure to long-distance running was high school cross country during my freshman year. I was not a fan AT ALL. After that season I chose a different sport to keep me off the cross-country team.
I have gone back and forth with a love/hate relationship with running but this year I set the impossible goal to run a marathon, my first. I assumed it was impossible because I have set this goal in the past but when things got hard, I quit on myself. A second goal was to run 1000 miles this year. Seemed a little crazy at the time.
When I started running again last January, I began with C25K. My first “run” was a 5-minute warm-up walk and then 8 rounds of alternating running for 1 minute with walking for 90 seconds, followed by a 5-minute cool-down walk.
I have to enter my mileage for November still, but at the end of October, I was around 815 miles for the year. And yesterday I ran (and walked) 25.5 miles at about a 12-minute mile pace. Miraculous.
My body is an amazing gift and I want to take care of it. I want to appreciate all the wonderful things my body can do. I want to appreciate how my body has gotten me to this point in my life. I want to appreciate the strength and endurance my body is capable of.
I am grateful for this body…. all it has done and what it will yet do….to make my life the blessing and gift that it clearly is.
What are you grateful for? “Contact Me” and send me a quick email. If you prefer, you can “Schedule a Conversation” for a free session to discuss what you want to work towards and how to get started.
The work is GRATITUDE, and I want to become a master!!
And as always…..Remember…..It’s ALL good!!
Michelle Keil Coaching 