Dear Body, Thank You
Dear Body,
Thank you.
Simple words. Deep meaning.
My body wasn’t always something I treasured or even liked. For much of my life my body was the focus of someone else’s abuse, and later my own hatred. For 15 years I treated my body with contempt. An eating disorder ravaged my body and my mind. It’s remarkable that I’m alive to thank my body.
This body has walked with me through my wedding day. The day I pledged to spend the rest of my life with the man who came into my life and made me believe that love was possible.
This body has birthed two beautiful children alive. It has carried another baby every second of his short life.
My legs allow me to run. To chase after my children and cause them to squeal in delight. My legs allow me to walk along side my husband. My legs allow me to have afternoon dance parties when we all need to be silly.
My arms carry my babies. My arms hug my husband each day when he returns home from work. My arms allow me to cook, clean, and care for my home. My arms allow me to embrace those that I love.
My breasts allow me to feed my children. My daughter for almost 3 straight years with no end in sight and my son for 9 months with no end in sight. They allow me to feed other children, my breasts have produced over 1,000 ounces of milk that has been donated to mamas in need.
My stomach has carried my children, housed them for the 9 (or 10) months they needed to grow before they emerged earth side. It has carried other babies every minute of their lives. They only knew the loving warmth of my stomach. My stomach bears a story. Stretch marks from pregnancy. Scars from surgeries. It is beautiful. Powerful. And amazing.
My back is strong. It allows me to wrap my babies close to me. To carry them through my day.
My body is amazing. And I am so very thankful. Every day. I choose to treat my body with care and love these days and it shows. My body allows me to live the life I always dreamed I would have. My body is not me, but it is a part of me. Different parts tell different stories. They all work together to help me tell my own story.
Thank you body. Thank you for carrying me through the painful years. For surviving the abuse both by myself and others. Thank you for allowing me to live this life. Thank you for remaining healthy and strong. Thank you for allowing me to be with my family, to laugh with my friends, to cry, to hug, to kiss, to make love to my husband, and to play with my babies. Thank you for being unique to me. Thank you for everything. I pledge to love you, honor you, and treasure you from here on out. Your shape and size don’t matter, your content does. Thank you for allowing me to create the life I always dreamed I could have.
With love,
Nikki