Dear body,

Thank you for putting up with me when, in my sadness, I’ve mistakenly thought that you were the source of my troubles.

Thank you for putting up with me when I’ve used food to cope.  For years I made physical exertions difficult for you and would then get upset at your limitations.

Thank you for the gentle reminders of pain telling me I was mistreating you and needed to change for you, for us.

Thank you for housing the vocal chords that have served as my therapy, allowing me to sing though my parents’ separation (even if it was to Mariah Carey’s “I Can’t Live” incessantly…I do apologize, but thanks for letting me do it!).

Thank for you being awkward and clumsy — you make my boyfriend laugh and if laughter isn’t the glue of a relationship, I don’t know what is.

Thank you, body, for that lisp.  It makes me feel like no matter how old I’m getting, there’s still a child inside me fumbling with her words out of excitement.

The thing is, you have been my punching bag — and you have always bounced back to literally take me forward, even if the steps were small and cautious.  I have spent so much time hating you. I have spent so much time comparing you to other bodies and lamenting you.  I have spent so much time separating you from my soul — thinking that if you would just change, get a little slimmer here and there, tighten up over there, then things would be perfect.  What a joke, body!

But I’m really not laughing.  To this day, I sigh when I catch you in the mirror.  I cover you with sweaters and refuse to look at you naked.  Why?  Because I’m a fool and it’s really that simple.  I’ve always thought it easier to blame you, body, than to realize that you won’t change until I do.  You see, it’s just my perception that makes me see what I do.  Every single moment I have the choice, the opportunity, the gift of seeing you for exactly what you are. You have always been a reflection of my soul.  And when I’ve called you ugly, it was because I was ugly, not you.

You don’t deserve a day — you deserve a lifetime of thanks. and apologies.

<3, The Cranky One

What does your letter to your body say?