Just Another Body Love Letter
Because the relationship with the body is lifelong.
Dear Body,
I have to write this out. It begs to be placed in the atmosphere, regardless of if anyone reads. You are strong. You are resilient. And let it be known, how proud I am of you.
You — who has withstood many medical tests, and constantly came out negative.
You — who has felt careless, inauthentic, and unwanted touch, yet still rose the next day with the sun.
You — who has withstood so many diets and words of criticism and hatred yet created a space and home of nurture and health.
You — who has walked countless steps in various places of this earth. Adventures only you and I know.
You — who has held our loved ones in your arms, nuzzled them in your chest, and breathed deep with gratitude.
Thank you.
I owe you nothing but love and appreciation.
And yet, harsh words can still hurt me when they are against you. When the world does not accept your ever-changing ways. When I’m taught to make you as small as I can. When I’m taught your bigness, is too big. Your size, too much. Your presence, not attractive enough. I’ve been brainwashed to be your enemy, for far too long.
You and I, we’ve fought so much. We’ve fought for years and years, to fit inside society’s box. To appease others. To make you as palatable and digestible for someone else’s gaze and appetite.
It’s time for it to be enough because you are enough. I don’t tell you that as often as I should. I process pain from the message that you’re not good enough. Not pretty enough, not thin enough, not beautiful enough. But who is making these rules? And why do their words matter more than mine? Me who lives within you.
You are my home and mine alone. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then I say you’re beautiful, and so it is. Well, I’ll say you’re phenomenal, and so you are.
My job is to treat you right, and I’m trying my best. Despite the challenges, and all the unlearning. It’s grueling; but I’ll keep trying for you. You’ve done so much for me, and I dare not let others’ opinions win.
You do not exist for the consumption of others. You do not exist for the patriarchy nor the male gaze. You do not exist for anyone’s pleasure. You are not entirely me. You are the home of my spirit, my energy, my charisma. Your looks do not define my existence nor my worth.
I love you; I respect you, and I thank you for all that you are. For all that you’ve given. For all that you do. For your inability to conform or behave per societal standards, I commend you. Remember The Beauty Myth’s quotation: “A quietly mad population is a tractable one.” Don’t let them win. The system is skewed; you are not.
I will still struggle within this journey. My relationship with you, is not a linear path. I may love you, but not like you all the time. I may like you, but not love you, others. But throughout it all, I’ll make great effort to show you nurture, peace, respect; for as long as we’ll have one another.
So, atrévete — take up space! Go on and keep dancing your dance. You are enough. WE — are enough.
