How do you treat your body? - a letter to mine.

I’ve been taking part in Mel Wells Academy and one of the tasks we were asked to do was to write a letter to our bodies. I thought I would share mine on here as you may be able to relate to how I used to feel and also to give hope that this can change.

A Letter To My Body

I owe you such an apology it makes me want to cry.

I’ve treated you so badly in the past – both physically and verbally – as though you were my enemy.

I showed you no appreciation for what you’ve done for me just by keeping me alive. 

I’ve not appreciated you for producing my 3 beautiful children – I just blamed you for complications that arose.  I didn’t acknowledge the fact my actions caused the issues – my choices over the years were the main contributing factor.

I’ve starved you; I’ve overfed you; I’ve treated you like a dustbin, I’ve said the most horrible things to you and then been angry and upset when you didn’t do what I wanted you to.

All the times I called you a fat bint, disgusting, gross, ugly – over and over.  To grab, poke and prod you and hate you. It’s no wonder you didn’t respond to my attempts to manipulate and control you.

From such a young age I grew to despise you and treated you as such.

I never acknowledged the miracle you are or all that you do.  I just took the daily functions for granted – no recognising the work that each of 37 trillion cells does.  How you work is awe-inspiring and not something I should have taken for granted.

This has changed over recent years and I finally started to appreciate you and treat you kindly – OK I admit with the odd slip up on the way.

I’m sorry

and THANK YOU

So thank you 💓

Thank you for working – in spite of the way I’ve treated you.

Thank you for growing and keeping safe my 3 babies.

Thank you for recovering from illnesses, broken bones, giving birth, c-section, and numerous bumps and bruises.

Thank you for enabling me to climb mountains, to swim in the sea, to lift weights, to enjoy life.

Thank you for enabling me to learn, read, write, see, move.

Thank you for enabling me to travel, to see the world, to meet people.

Thank you for responding to my kinder treatment of you by feeling more energetic and alive.  For allowing me to reconnect with your needs and wants.

Thank you for feeling emotion – happy or sad – for living, not just existing.

Thank you for enabling me to feel and experience pleasure.

So, what if I’ve got stretch marks, cellulite, fat rolls – you’ve kept me alive for nearly 50 years with no major issues and produced 3 other amazing humans.

I should have treated you as the amazing being you are.

You’re mine, unique, my home.

Should you want any help in forging a kinder relationship with your body or food sign up to my email series #freedomnotrestriction