One evening during my recent stay at Cloona Health Retreat Centre Loretta, a psychotherapist, gave a talk on ‘Food and Feeling’. As I sat with my fellow guests, waiting for Loretta to arrive, I was feeling pretty smug as I knew I was an eating and body issue free zone. The loud thump mid way through her talk was the sound of me falling to earth as I realized that actually I do have issues.
Among other things, Loretta spoke about the way so many of us use highly critical language when talking about our bodies; harsh critical words that we wouldn’t dream of using when talking to someone else. Sadly I recognized myself. She suggested we might find it interesting and useful to write a letter to our body and to have our body write a reply. Here goes.
Dear body,
I have never spoken to you before, which I regret, as I now realize I have so much to thank you for. Via you I have been blessed with good health; I have been able to work, travel, laugh, run, and do all manner of other things which I am prone to take for granted.
Most of all I want to say how very sorry I am for the constant criticisms I have levelled at you over the years; there was always some bit of you that didn’t match up to my utterly unrealistic expectations. Mea culpa.
I hope you can forgive me. I plan to strive to appreciate you more and to rein in the criticisms. I hope we can now live together in greater harmony.
Love from me
Dear me,
Thank you for your letter. I was so very pleased and relieved to receive it; in truth I don’t feel I am even a fraction as bad as you have always thought I am.
I am glad that we are to try for a more harmonious coexistence. It would be lovely if we could make a start by agreeing that actually I am not overweight and stop the never-ending on-off struggle to shift a few pounds. All is forgiven.
Love from your body.
Note: I am in agreement with my body about my (our) weight.
Just Add Attitude 
hey that is fantastic, i am going to so that too, what a stunning idea! c
It is a good idea and it certainly made me think more about the negative way I ofter view my body.
I have always used self-deprecation and smart-alecky humor when talking about myself, thinking it was a way to keep from coming across as too egotistical, but the truth is probably more that people think I’m really unhappy with how I look or feel if they believe what I’m saying. I guess it’s a good lesson to be reminded to be kind to and about ourselves, too! Thanks for sharing that insight today, my friend!
You are right It is a good lesson to be reminded to be kind to and about ourselves.
Isn’t it true? I wonder where all that negative body self-talk comes from? And where it began?? I am quite content with being average…
I wonder is it because we are overexposed to a constant stream of images of supposed perfection. I am going to aim for being content with being average. It sounds like a good idea.
a great idea. And I’m definitely too critical which as you said I wouldn’t be of others. Time to lighten and brighten up!
‘Time to lighten and brighten up’ is a great expression. I think most of us are too critical of our bodies. I will try to do lighten and brighten my body outlook.
Great letters from the both of you.
Thanks
I love this thought! Our bodies do deserve such gratitude! Thank you for reminding me. – Now, there is a little conversation I have to have…
I am glad you liked the idea.
My body laughs at me sometimes as I actually think it can do more than it can….Like stay up until late at night and still function the the next day! I might try one of these letters, it’s a great idea. xx
Thanks for the comment. I found writing the letters very useful.
Reblogged this on Healthy Working Mom and commented:
Had to share this with you…as a person striving to be healthy, I wonder just how harsh I am on my body. Big thanks to Just Add Attitude for the reminder 🙂
Thank you for the reblog. x