A thank you letter to my body

Recently, I saw a post created by Ang from Lose weight with Any, that was a dedicated thank you note to her body. Given that Ang is such a burst of positivity in the blogging sphere, I was a little surprised to read her vulnerable letter. I felt quite touched by her words because of the strong, determined hat she wears every day. Well, the hat came off as she gracefully thanked her body for carrying her through the toughest moments in life. Inspired by this, I have eagerly accepted her challenge to write one of my own.

Thanks Ang for this challenge!

My dear body,

You know I don’t like to hang out with you too much, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I’ve just gotten so used to you always being there when I need you, that I never really prioritise you or what you need. It has been almost three decades of this partnership. Three decades of just you and me against the world. Three whole decades! So please forgive me for not being as excited about you as I used to be.

We’ve come a very long way, and I have never gotten the chance to tell you just how much I appreciate you. I appreciate your resilience when dealing with my self-destructive moods. I appreciate your fortitude when I suddenly go from zero to one hundred at the gym. And I appreciate your consistent communication with me even though I don’t always listen.

I understand that you need more than a simple thank you note because words are empty without action. But believe me, I am trying. I’m trying to give you the rest you need so that you can function properly. It isn’t easy, but I have also been working on the nutrition you need to keep going. This might take a while to get right because you don’t seem to like it when I go too far in either direction.

I have also been trying to listen to you when you say that you don’t want to do anything. Before, I was the one who made all of the decisions for you, but we know how that ends. So from now on, neither of us is in control without the other. We are co-pilots navigating this world together.

Related: I didn’t work out for 7 months and this happened…

Body, I need you as much as you need me…

I do have one simple ask for you – I hope you don’t mind. When you feel like I’m forgetting my promises, please be kind to me as well. Sometimes I struggle with other things in life and I need your support. I know I wake up at a ridiculous hour some days, to get my work done. I eat unhealthy food when I am sad. And we both know that I can be a little reckless when I am stressed. What I need from you is to help me through those moments, so that I can in turn give you what you need.

Body, you are amazing, even with all of your flaws. If I had to choose a new one, I do think I would stick with you because we are a perfect match. Wait, you don’t believe me? I’ll tell you why it’s true…

You may not be the sculpted goddess of a body that I always wanted, but are very much attractive. In fact, had you been any more perfect, I don’t think we would have a perfect life right now. You also have stripes that look odd to some, but to me, that is a symbol of how well we work together. The dark marks we hide are our perfect secret of overcoming irritations. The scars show how well we have worked to overcome illness. The curves you portray are a symbol of your feminine strength…

You remind me of my best friend…

Here’s the thing, you really are one of a kind. You remind me each day of my mother, but you have your own character. Gosh, you are a very beautiful reminder of where we came from. Strong, African women who fought for their loved ones. Strong women who were extremely intelligent, strong-willed and compassionate at the same time.

Body, before I get carried away with our heritage, let me bring it back to the main purpose. You have been with me through thick and thin, so I promise to be here for you going forward.

I love you so much, please don’t ever forget that!

Yours sincerely,

Heart.

I challenge you to write a thank you note to your body as well. If you do, don’t forget to tag Ang!