NEVER FOCUS SO MUCH
ON HOW YOUR BODY LOOKS
THAT YOU FORGET
ALL IT CAN DO.
(Valerie Monroe)
It's no secret - I'm fat. I'm also short - and apparently getting shorter at every physical. The gray in my hair is starting to overthrow the brown. And my sensitive skin decides to blossom with weird rashes and hives...just because it can.
I recall the 6 year old, the 16 year old, the 18 year old I was. I remember running around playing hide and seek. I remember beginning to stand tall and to smile freely, easily. I remember feeling attractive and seen, comfortable and confident in my own skin.
When I start to miss those good old days too much, when I start that slow slide into sadness and loss, I make myself do something. I'll go for a walk in my neighborhood or on the beach. I feel my arms swing, my legs move. I look around, take it all in. I smile - at nothing, at people, at the alligator sunning itself on the other side of the pond. I breathe, in and out, in and out. I listen to my heart beat. I let my mind roam, my imagination free to do its thing.
Sure, we don't look the same as we did. We can't do some of the things we used to, or we can but maybe not in the same way. We might need stronger glasses or a hearing aid or a cane. But if we only focus on what we can't do, we'll miss out on all we can do.
I know, it's often easier said than done. But let's still give a shot. Let's recognize our wonderful bodies, praise our unique minds. Let's remember how truly amazing we really are.
That's a great, positive message. I work in a gym, and I'm always trying to get people to focus on how far they can run/cycle/row or how much weight they can lift compared to when they started. It takes them a while to appreciate what I'm saying though.
ReplyDeleteExcellent work, Annalisa! It's so great you do that. It's too bad it takes people so long to see it for themselves but at least they do get there eventually. :)
DeleteThat is a great attitude. I don't worry about the grey hair or anything. It happens.
ReplyDeleteMy husband doesn't worry about his gray hair, either. :)
DeleteWhat a great post. I'm so much slower and not as strong as I was but I'm so glad to still be moving and healthy.
ReplyDeleteIt's so great you recognize that you're still moving, still strong. A lot of people struggle to see the good, the positive in what they can still do, in what they can do in general.
DeleteYour post is what I needed to get me moving this morning! Thanks for the inspiration and motivation!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Donna!
DeleteMan, I can get so tangled. I've only had a few years in my whole life I've been body-happy. Anymore it is the back pain and oddities that get to me, but it really is pretty amazing. We need to be glad for what they can do, eh?
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely hard to see through some of those aches and pains and "oddities" to the good stuff, but when I think about the alternative - moping, crying, whining, not enjoying whatever it is I can do - that's even harder.
DeleteThat's a great attitude! My hair has been turning white since I was 18. I'm still kind of in denial about it...
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could work it into your hairstyle - like some cool funky white streaks? :)
DeleteThank you, Madeline, for reminding us that LIFE is wonderful and to enjoy what we have, not what we've lost. Four joint replacements later (bad arthritis) I still wonder that I can go for a walk, lift boxes, swim.... and I lost 28 lbs this last year at my husband's pushing. Go silver - it's a gorgeous hair color! I am so happy that I am following your blog - you make me feel good!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Noelle! For inspiring the rest of us with your comment, and for making ME feel good. :)
DeleteNow that's a dose of inspiration! I think I'll run with it!
ReplyDeleteGo, go, go! :)
DeleteGreat post! Very inspiring. I used to ride a bike all the time when I was younger and I worry I'm not as active I was, but I walk the dogs so that's something. Also embracing my encroaching greyness. At least I'm not losing it!
ReplyDeleteWalking the dogs is definitely something. And the last line of your comment made me laugh. :)
DeleteGreat post. I think we should always be appreciative of what we have. I'm no spring chicken anymore, but I feel more knowledgeable about more things now than I did when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I wish I felt more knowledgeable. Sigh.
DeleteThat IS tough to do, but with the activity I've been getting lately (suffering from a three year migraine and chronic fatigue derailed me for quite awhile, and I'm paying for that, but trying to dig out) I've been feeling stronger. I'm not seeing a difference, but I am feeling a difference. Hopefully that means I'll see the difference soon. In the meantime, I try to relish what I feel. And, seriously, I've lost half an inch, according to the doctor. What's up with that?
ReplyDeleteWhen we're doing the work and feeling all good but the numbers on the scale don't reflect any of that, it's really hard not to give in and dive into a bowl of mac and cheese. But that's when we need to focus on the feeling good and strong, etc. and keep that going...and going.... :)
DeleteWhat's toughest is that we now live in a world where everyone we've ever known can look us up on social media and see what we look like. So we hide. If we don't look our best, we don't allow our pictures to be taken and we have NO pictures of our lives. I found my best friend from high school on Facebook and she said she wouldn't come back to the high school reunions because she's embarrassed that she's "fat" now. I told her we're in our 40s, for heaven's sake, and NONE of us have the bodies we had at 18. Not the high school homecoming queen, not the head cheerleader--NONE of us. Still, people get so hung up on weight that they don't live their lives. I say be who you are, be as healthy as you can be, and embrace your beauty. Someone decided a size 2 was "beauty" for women and pecs and abs were "handsome" for men...and we can't seem to get past that.
ReplyDeleteYou have an excellent point about not having pictures of ourselves in our own lives. And how often do look back at some of the pics we are in and say something like, "Ew, I look terrible!" instead of "Oh, that was a wonderful day/experience/party!"
DeleteThank you, Madeline! This hit just the right spot for me today. I've got some kind of sinus thing going on and my "new" exercise routine has been thrown completely off, but I know my body is capable of healing and moving and breathing. Yes, let's focus on the strengths and the good stuff. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about focusing on your body healing and being happy with what you can do right now. That "new" exercise routine isn't going anywhere. :)
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