Body Gratitude
November brings Thanksgiving and a time when we may focus more on food – fixing it, eating it, and feeling guilty afterwards – than on counting our blessings. If you have been caught in this pattern and would like to change, try practicing mindfulness as you prepare and eat your food and consciously give thanks to nature and all the elements and people who contributed to bringing it to the table. Eat slowly. Savor. Notice the variety of tastes, textures, smells. Remember, there will always be leftovers, so no need to eat beyond fullness today.
Focus on the spirit of Thanksgiving and make a gratitude list. As you do, please remember to include your body for all it does ~ and use the items listed below by Margo Maine, Ph.D. from her book Body Wars: Making Peace with Women’s Bodies.
Ways To Love Your Body from Body Wars: Making Peace with Women’s Bodies
- We are born in love with our bodies. Watch an infant sucking their fingers and toes, not worrying about the “body fat”. Imagine being so in love with your own body.
- Think of your body as a tool. Create an inventory of all the things you can do with it.
- Be aware of what your body does each day. It is in the instrument of your life, not an ornament for others’ enjoyment.
- Create a list of people you admire who have contributed to your life, your community, or the world. Was their appearance importance to their success and accomplishments?
- Be the expert of your body – challenge fashion magazines, cosmetics industry or weight tables.
- Enjoy your body; stretch, dance, walk, sing, take a bubble bath, have a pedicure.
- Affirm that your body is perfect just the way it is.
- Remind yourself: Your body is not a democracy – you’re the only one who gets a vote.
- Count your blessings, not your blemishes.
- Find a method of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly, not to lose weight, but to feel good.
- Make a closet inventory. Do you wear clothes to hide your body or to follow fashion trends? Keep the clothes that give you feelings of pleasure, confidence and comfort.
- Don’t let your size keep you from doing things you enjoy.
- If you only had one year to live, how important would your body image and appearance be?
- Let your inner beauty and individuality shine.
- Beauty is not just skin-deep. It is a reflection of your whole self. Love and enjoy the person inside.
Blessings of love, light, harmony and peace,
Linda