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Day One Hundred and Seventy-Six:  Dear Body,

  This used to be a Youtube thing when I was in tenth grade, and I never made a video, but I thought on behalf of feeling better about body image lately I’d write some short letters to my body.

Dear Body,

Hair,

               Although you sometimes do whatever you would like instead of listening to me I thank you for occaisionally making me look a) badass Bowie, b) very messy and curly, or c) somewhat put together. 

Eyes,

               We’ve been through a whole lot together, and despite the fact that you rarely do what I’d like and constantly give up on me, I refuse to give up on you.  I know deep down that you love me, and you’ve done this for a reason, to teach me to be a better more compassionate and driven person.  I thank you for your strength and all the bullshit we put up together.  Sorry for sleeping on you the wrong way last night, too.

Shouder,

               Thank you for having held my backpack up for years and never really stopping.  You tirelessly work your magic on aiding in my balance but sometimes I don’t give you enough credit.  I am sincerely sorry and wish you the best of luck in our future.

Hands,

               Wrists, palms, finders, and finger nails:  I am completely and totally sorry.  I crack you, burn you, bite you hit you whack you and all other things that one might put their hands through and I always take you for granted.  How would I be typing without you?  How would I do anything, really?  I don’t appreciate you enough.  Thank you for putting up with my hackney-ing.

Chest,

               Thanks for being awesome. Kcoolmovingon

Internal organs,

               Including my now non-existent gallbladder, stomach, kidneys, liver, and lungs:  I’m never taking you for granted again.  I am sorry for the greasy food, the beers, the binge drinking in first year (and occaisionally since), the overeating, the under eating, and everything else that potentially harmed you in any way.  I do appreciate you, but sometimes I think it’s kind of gross that you’re all shoved into my body and I can’t see you. 

Legs,

               I don’t know how you put up with me.  I hated you at first, but now I think you are beautiful.  I know that without you I would fall down, I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere, I wouldn’t have been able to climb mountains or take the tube or swim in the ocean.  I wouldn’t be able to run alongside the kids or go shopping or anything at all. You are my first support and the last to take a break, and for that I thank you.

Feet,

Oh, oh…  I tell people that beauty is pain when they see my heals, and to be honest I really wish I took better care of you before now.  I promise that as soon as I am comfortable with it I will get you a pedicure once a season, because baby you are worth it. (babies? Feet? I don’t know.)

Dear Body,

               There are days that I don’t know why I have the body I have.  There are days I know I wouldn’t be abe to make it without you, and other days where I’m stuck in my theoretical head and know that I could survive elsewhere.  I put you through scolding showers and cold showers and all kinds of things and you only give up on me sometimes.  I’ve beentrying to tell you how beautiful you are, and yet sometimes I forget.  I think that I should be focusing on all of the things I do have instead of the things I’m ashamed of.  If Ionly knew what you did for me on a daily basis… I know.  And I appreciate it, I do, even when sometimes I don’t show it.  I am working on it, I promise, and I henceforth pledge to consider you when thinking of going on diets, working out beyond exhaustion, eating unhealthily and staying up all night.  Thank you for being you.

x