A Thank You Letter to My Body

February 26, 2021

As the welcoming sight of 2021 has begun, I have found myself thinking of new years resolutions. While January of a new year typically brings new motivation for change, I realized, like many of us I rarely stick with these resolutions. As a result of the tumultuous changes 2020 brought us and my pattern of not sticking with my resolutions, I have decided to do something this year: make a constant effort to bring myself back to the present and practice gratitude for my current circumstances.

Practicing gratitude is not easy. I am reminding myself of that as I came home today to relax from a day where everything seemed to have gone wrong, only to find the dog had chewed my sheets and my water was cut off. At that moment, I scoffed to myself as a meager “Sure, I am grateful….” barely escaped my mouth. However, to hold myself to my resolution, I decided to write a gratitude letter. Gratitude letters are a great way to reconnect with another person, increase your feeling of social connectedness and raise your positive affect. They can be written to a loved one, a jar of peanut butter, or, as for mine today, my own physical being, which has quite literally carried me to where I am today. I encourage you to choose your own recipient of gratitude and write away.

Dear body,

Thank you for loving me even when I have not loved myself. Often when I have wanted nothing but to stay in bed and not use you, you gave me the ability to lift off my covers and put one foot on the ground. When I told you that you were not attractive, not loveable, not wanted, you stood firm by my side in a loud defiance forgiving me and stating, “I am beautiful, I am strong, I am more than a number on a scale, and I am not going anywhere”.

Thank you for the ability to run when incessant anxious thoughts robbed me of choosing joy. And as you carried me, as you helped me put one foot in front of the other, you naturally gave me the joy I was seeking.

Thank you for being a home to my heart, eyes, toes, hands, and every part of me. Thank you for the tears, smiles and laughs that give me the gentle reminder that I am a human. Thank you for the ability to love and to live.

Thank you for your ability to heal. From infections, diseases, cuts, burns, sprains, and emotional hurt, you have never stopped mending.

While I owe you many more thanks and frankly, apologies, I am going to rest here.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for all you have done for me.

Love the name that has been titled to your vessel,

Claire, Wellness Mentor at Modern Minds

Categories: REFLECT