our bodies deserve our love + attention
Monday morning messes
Last week I shared this photo of my messy closet + how I realized I treat my emotions like my closet: I hide the mess + put a smile on my face.
If you missed it, you can catch up HERE!
My closet.
grateful for so many of you!
So many of you related + empathized with me. Thank you! Others asked great questions that stimulated good discussion around stress, coping skills, and wellness.
Enjoying our November weather in my velvet jumpsuit by Shades of Rose with my new Gorjana jewelry styles.
then, I received a different kind of message.
Then one woman messaged me privately, “I would rather be dead than be a fat slob.”
Her words hurt.
Because not too long ago, I would have agreed with her.
I would never have wanted to be sharing my mess, my insecurities, my imperfections on the internet. I would never have posted photos displaying my larger body. I would have dieted, over-exercised, and shamed myself into hiding the struggle.
See, that’s how shame turns us into our own worst enemies.
There is so much power in rewriting the narrative our shame stories put on us.
rewriting my story
A little over two years ago my brain was injured in an accident. I became blind in my left eye. My life, health + abilities were out of my control, fast.
Four months into my recovery I had to dig DEEP.
I was doing my best to “get back” but it wasn’t good enough.
My brain, body, abilities, in fact my whole SELF were irrevocably changed.
My body + brain had betrayed me.
I got to a point where I didn’t know if I could live with the effects of my injuries. I felt like I was an alien in a different body.
Fortunately, I chose to live. That meant I had to love myself, no matter what my body looked like, what it could do or what I achieved with my life. Living meant adjusting my expectations for myself, my body, my career, and my entire life.
Today I choose to be grateful for these changes because they’ve kept me alive. Honestly this is a continual practice because I miss my old body, brain, and abilities every single day.
Today I choose to grieve what I lost and still show up as myself.
Today I choose to celebrate my perfectly imperfect body because it can rock this adorable velvet jumpsuit.
How great is this color for fall??
every body is strong, powerful, and worthy of love and respect.
My body has healed SO much: I’ve gotten my eyesight back through vision therapy; I’m seeing progress in physical therapy. I am not “where I was” before my accident and probably will never be. I work daily to come to terms with that.
But you know what is most important? I’m kinder to myself every day.
Because showing up to live every day is much more important to me than being perfect.
My necklaces are by Gorjana; if you shop through my link HERE you are supporting my blog and mission to provide free mindful exercises online. Thank you for your support!
Charlie Cameo
Parker Mini
Parker Wrap necklaces
This adorable jumpsuit is from Shades of Rose. I do not receive a commission from this link, but I’ve added it HERE for your convenience!
today’s mindful minute is to write a letter of appreciation to our bodies
Today’s mindful minute is writing a thank you note to our bodies.
Our bodies deserve our love + attention, NO MATTER WHAT.
Comment below if you agree, and keep reading to do the exercise.
Today’s mindful minute exercise is a letter of appreciation for all your body does for you.
this Exercise may be difficult.
The first time I wrote my body a love note, it was very awkward. I was in group therapy and frankly didn’t like anything about my body at the time.
But I stuck with it and was able to find things to appreciate.
The magic of this exercise is that the more I practice it, the more I find that I love.
Putting my attention on what I love helps immeasurably.
Here’s an example of a note of appreciation today:
Dear Body,
Thank you for always being with me. You’ve grown, you’ve changed, but I can always count on you to show up for me.
Thank you for sticking with me when my legs get shaky, when my vision is blurry and when my brain is tired.
I love how you can smile no matter how bad of a day it is, and I love how your heart always finds the good in people around you.
Much love, Me.
Can you make a reminder to yourself to add a bit to your love note once a day this week??
