I made it thru with my outpatient surgery with all positive outcome which is a huge relief. Trying to keep up with health is so important as we get older! Today was a day with addressing my dental health concerns.
I have a co-worker dealing with skin cancer concerns right now. I have to consider myself fortunate of not dealing with any serious concerns right now.
Back when I lived in Maine
I had an old 1959 Volkswagen . . .
the kind with an oval window in the back.
Cost me $400 in 1968,
and it was a handy little car
with a personality to go with the quirks.
I took very good care of it
and over time,
redid the headliner,
and covered the side panels and seats
in lime green naugahyde
with white piping . . .
pretty fancy.
In the summertime
my husband painted it lime green as well,
and the bumpers and hubcaps schoolbus yellow.
After that
I spent my days
painting grass around the bottom of the doors,
and over the fenders
and around the front,
adding daisies of different colors,
and finally
yellow chickens
running along in the ‘grass’,
rather like the old bakers
running around the bottoms of bread trucks
back in the day.
That’s what you do
when you’re young, in love,
pregnant,
and haven’t a care in the world.
I treated that little car
better then I have my own vehicle through life . . .
my body.
I’m playing catch up now,
using lotions to minimize all the sun damage it has suffered,
and soaking the calluses off of my poor little feet,
stretching out every day
and trying to restore the suppleness of my muscles,
which,
no matter what I do,
will never be the same.
I honor my body,
which has served me well,
by going to bed earlier,
and opting for comfort
rather than beauty.
I am so fortunate
that it still holds up after all these years,
much longer than the Volkswagen did,
and I enjoy the pleasure she still gives me
with an immense amount of surprised gratitude,
for I know very well
that I not only neglected her,
but abused her
when I didn’t know any better. ♥
I am so with you on “ opting for comfort rather than beauty!” I never did much of the suffer for beauty’s sake. And as I age, being kind to my body is a priority in thanks for all it has done and is still doing for me.
I can show appreciation to my body by acknowledging the abuse I have thrown its way – overeating, eating poorly, not hydrating adequately, being under-active, anxiety, yoyo dieting, sunbathing with baby oil and iodine mixture in the 70’s, and probably more. I took my body for granted and even hated on it for many years. And yet – it still functions reasonably well for me so far. So I ask for forgiveness, and have already started mending my ways by limiting alcohol and other sugars and processed foods, while adding walking, yoga, water and meditation/prayer. I often think of those in recovery and consider myself somewhat in that pattern…I’m this many days healthier.
I have not always been a good caretaker of my body but it has always given me its best. Most of my health issues are the result of putting it through so much anxiety. That said, today I do have a deep appreciation for my body and do my best to treat it well. I wish to treat it as well as it has treated me. I share a morning meditation from my 2023 journal based on a similar question from gratefulness.org.
Morning Meds Nov 28 2023 What arises in me when I take in the wonder of my living body?
Over the years I have made unreasonable demands on my physical body and often grew angry with it if it failed me. I am amazed at how well my physical body still functions after what I now realize was not the greatest of care. But when I ponder today’s question and today’s quote, I find myself asking: What is the definition of a “living body?” and I come to the realization that my “living body” is not just my physical body. It’s my thoughts, my feelings, my actions.
In today’s quote, Deepak Chopra says, “If you restore balance in your own self, you will be contributing immensely to the healing of the world.”
To“take in the wonder of my own living body,” the importance and need to nurture the relationship between my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies arises. If my “living body” is out of balance, how can I contribute to my own well-being let alone the well-being and healing of the world?
You are right,
dear Carol Ann . . .
our living body
really is more than just the physical.
Our thoughts, feelings, and actions affect our bodies,
just as they do
to the wee babes we carry inside of us
when we were younger.
Everything touches everything . . . ♥
The weather demands I stay hydrated, out of the smokey air, and move. My mind says feed it good positive thoughts. My soul says stay present and enjoy the moment. My intellect says read, and do some puzzles. My social side says call a friend/family member.
I’ll try to be kind to my body in my thoughts as I get dressed, rather than thinking of how it used to look as being “better”. During the day I’ll use my walking pad to add movement to my meetings, and tonight after work I’ll bike down to a hatha yoga class and appreciate the deep, slow time and the stretching.
At this moment, I’m feeding my body coffee to help it start its engines. Yesterday I listened to this fascinating episode of On Being while biking to and from improv rehearsal https://onbeing.org/programs/michael-pollan-the-mystery-of-consciousness/. He has a lot to say about consciousness in other living beings, including plants, and cites some interesting research about where in our bodies we know things. It isn’t always in the brain.
Barb, Your opening statement hit me right between the eyes! I very good at comparing my current shape to the shape I had for over 70 years! I need to apologize to my body. Thank you.
I could show appreciation for my body today by drinking enough water to stay well hydrated, noticing when I am tired and taking time to stop and rest, and breathing deeply as I take in this amazing world. Peace to all.
Be grateful for all that it can do. I have already stretched and done some movement to get myself moving and flowing today, but I will take breaks while working the studio to move. I’ll nourish my body with healthy food and lots of water. And I’ll remember what a blessing it is to be in this vessel.
Show Appreciation for my body – be thankful for this physical vehicle, feed my body healthy food today, do yoga stretches, at end of day-give it a warm soaking bath.
Keep fueling it with whole foods. Much of it raised here on forage and garden vegetables grown here and tended by me. Put a little love in your (body) lifestyle.
Peace, Love and Light.
I have a tiny garden but so appeciate if after all the terrible scares of health concerns with fresh veggies making people ill right now! Good for you for keeping up with a big garden!
Joseph, your response made me think of the song, “Put a little love in your Heart.”
Lyrics:
Think of your fellow man
Lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart
You see it’s getting late
Oh, please don’t hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place
For you and me
You just wait and see
Another day goes by
Still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know
We won’t let hatred grow
Put a little love in your heart
And the world (and the world)
Will be a better place
All the world (and the world)
Will be a better place
For you (for you)
And me (and me)
You just wait (just wait)
And see
Wait and see
Take a good look around
And if you’re looking down
Put a little love in your heart
I hope when you decide
Kindness will be your guide
Put a little love in your heart
And the world (and the world)
Will be a better place
And the world (and the world)
Will be a better place
For you (for you)
And me (and me)
You just wait (just wait)
And see
People now, put a little love in your heart
Each and every day
Put a little love in your heart
There’s no other way
Put a little love in your heart
It’s up to you
Put a little love in your heart
Come on and
Put a little love in your heart
You’ve got to
Put a little love in your heart
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jackie De Shannon / Jimmy Holiday / Randy Myers
There’s nothing like food
grown in your own garden,
dear Joseph . . .
I’m feeling like a rabbit these days,
as we have an over-abundance of lettuce this year. 🙂
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I made it thru with my outpatient surgery with all positive outcome which is a huge relief. Trying to keep up with health is so important as we get older! Today was a day with addressing my dental health concerns.
I have a co-worker dealing with skin cancer concerns right now. I have to consider myself fortunate of not dealing with any serious concerns right now.
I am with you on the one.
I am happy to hear,
dear Robin,
that your outpatient surgery
went well.
I will also hold your co-worker
in my heart. ♥
Back when I lived in Maine
I had an old 1959 Volkswagen . . .
the kind with an oval window in the back.
Cost me $400 in 1968,
and it was a handy little car
with a personality to go with the quirks.
I took very good care of it
and over time,
redid the headliner,
and covered the side panels and seats
in lime green naugahyde
with white piping . . .
pretty fancy.
In the summertime
my husband painted it lime green as well,
and the bumpers and hubcaps schoolbus yellow.
After that
I spent my days
painting grass around the bottom of the doors,
and over the fenders
and around the front,
adding daisies of different colors,
and finally
yellow chickens
running along in the ‘grass’,
rather like the old bakers
running around the bottoms of bread trucks
back in the day.
That’s what you do
when you’re young, in love,
pregnant,
and haven’t a care in the world.
I treated that little car
better then I have my own vehicle through life . . .
my body.
I’m playing catch up now,
using lotions to minimize all the sun damage it has suffered,
and soaking the calluses off of my poor little feet,
stretching out every day
and trying to restore the suppleness of my muscles,
which,
no matter what I do,
will never be the same.
I honor my body,
which has served me well,
by going to bed earlier,
and opting for comfort
rather than beauty.
I am so fortunate
that it still holds up after all these years,
much longer than the Volkswagen did,
and I enjoy the pleasure she still gives me
with an immense amount of surprised gratitude,
for I know very well
that I not only neglected her,
but abused her
when I didn’t know any better. ♥
I am so with you on “ opting for comfort rather than beauty!” I never did much of the suffer for beauty’s sake. And as I age, being kind to my body is a priority in thanks for all it has done and is still doing for me.
Ahh yes, the days of not knowing any better. Thank you, dear Sparrow.
I just got 2 blocks of deep sleep yesterday into this morning: a nap from 3:30pm-6pm and slept last night from 10:30pm-4:30am this morning.
Sounds like good replenishment, Loc!
I can show appreciation to my body by acknowledging the abuse I have thrown its way – overeating, eating poorly, not hydrating adequately, being under-active, anxiety, yoyo dieting, sunbathing with baby oil and iodine mixture in the 70’s, and probably more. I took my body for granted and even hated on it for many years. And yet – it still functions reasonably well for me so far. So I ask for forgiveness, and have already started mending my ways by limiting alcohol and other sugars and processed foods, while adding walking, yoga, water and meditation/prayer. I often think of those in recovery and consider myself somewhat in that pattern…I’m this many days healthier.
I have not always been a good caretaker of my body but it has always given me its best. Most of my health issues are the result of putting it through so much anxiety. That said, today I do have a deep appreciation for my body and do my best to treat it well. I wish to treat it as well as it has treated me. I share a morning meditation from my 2023 journal based on a similar question from gratefulness.org.
Morning Meds Nov 28 2023 What arises in me when I take in the wonder of my living body?
Over the years I have made unreasonable demands on my physical body and often grew angry with it if it failed me. I am amazed at how well my physical body still functions after what I now realize was not the greatest of care. But when I ponder today’s question and today’s quote, I find myself asking: What is the definition of a “living body?” and I come to the realization that my “living body” is not just my physical body. It’s my thoughts, my feelings, my actions.
In today’s quote, Deepak Chopra says, “If you restore balance in your own self, you will be contributing immensely to the healing of the world.”
To“take in the wonder of my own living body,” the importance and need to nurture the relationship between my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies arises. If my “living body” is out of balance, how can I contribute to my own well-being let alone the well-being and healing of the world?
You are right,
dear Carol Ann . . .
our living body
really is more than just the physical.
Our thoughts, feelings, and actions affect our bodies,
just as they do
to the wee babes we carry inside of us
when we were younger.
Everything touches everything . . . ♥
Sparrow, I agree the child in the womb is affected by our thoughts, feelings and actions.
The weather demands I stay hydrated, out of the smokey air, and move. My mind says feed it good positive thoughts. My soul says stay present and enjoy the moment. My intellect says read, and do some puzzles. My social side says call a friend/family member.
Yram, I too experience what you describe…we are such multi-faceted beings, my different sides, also vie for what they want! 😂
Yram, walking in the sun all day in Japan is hot. Staying hydrated is a must.
I’ll try to be kind to my body in my thoughts as I get dressed, rather than thinking of how it used to look as being “better”. During the day I’ll use my walking pad to add movement to my meetings, and tonight after work I’ll bike down to a hatha yoga class and appreciate the deep, slow time and the stretching.
At this moment, I’m feeding my body coffee to help it start its engines. Yesterday I listened to this fascinating episode of On Being while biking to and from improv rehearsal https://onbeing.org/programs/michael-pollan-the-mystery-of-consciousness/. He has a lot to say about consciousness in other living beings, including plants, and cites some interesting research about where in our bodies we know things. It isn’t always in the brain.
Thank you for the link Barb .
Barb, Your opening statement hit me right between the eyes! I very good at comparing my current shape to the shape I had for over 70 years! I need to apologize to my body. Thank you.
Me too. 🙂
I like Michael Polllan,
dear Barb . . .
he always has something useful and wise
to say.
Thank you for posting this reference. ♥
I could show appreciation for my body today by drinking enough water to stay well hydrated, noticing when I am tired and taking time to stop and rest, and breathing deeply as I take in this amazing world. Peace to all.
Amen, dear Mary
♥️
Be grateful for all that it can do. I have already stretched and done some movement to get myself moving and flowing today, but I will take breaks while working the studio to move. I’ll nourish my body with healthy food and lots of water. And I’ll remember what a blessing it is to be in this vessel.
Show Appreciation for my body – be thankful for this physical vehicle, feed my body healthy food today, do yoga stretches, at end of day-give it a warm soaking bath.
Our bodies are a Gift of Life. Period.
https://donatelife.net/
Well said. Without my body, I wouldn’t have two beautiful children, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren!
I have,
dear Michele. ♥
Keep fueling it with whole foods. Much of it raised here on forage and garden vegetables grown here and tended by me. Put a little love in your (body) lifestyle.
Peace, Love and Light.
I have a tiny garden but so appeciate if after all the terrible scares of health concerns with fresh veggies making people ill right now! Good for you for keeping up with a big garden!
Joseph, your response made me think of the song, “Put a little love in your Heart.”
Lyrics:
Think of your fellow man
Lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart
You see it’s getting late
Oh, please don’t hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place
For you and me
You just wait and see
Another day goes by
Still the children cry
Put a little love in your heart
If you want the world to know
We won’t let hatred grow
Put a little love in your heart
And the world (and the world)
Will be a better place
All the world (and the world)
Will be a better place
For you (for you)
And me (and me)
You just wait (just wait)
And see
Wait and see
Take a good look around
And if you’re looking down
Put a little love in your heart
I hope when you decide
Kindness will be your guide
Put a little love in your heart
And the world (and the world)
Will be a better place
And the world (and the world)
Will be a better place
For you (for you)
And me (and me)
You just wait (just wait)
And see
People now, put a little love in your heart
Each and every day
Put a little love in your heart
There’s no other way
Put a little love in your heart
It’s up to you
Put a little love in your heart
Come on and
Put a little love in your heart
You’ve got to
Put a little love in your heart
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jackie De Shannon / Jimmy Holiday / Randy Myers
I was hearing the same song as I typed that line, Carol Ann. Thanks for the lyrics.
There’s nothing like food
grown in your own garden,
dear Joseph . . .
I’m feeling like a rabbit these days,
as we have an over-abundance of lettuce this year. 🙂
Sweet peas season has been abundant this year.
I can say thank you to my body and make sure I stretch and do mobility moves throughout the day.
I can start walking again as an early morning exercise Walking meditation will be good for my body and my soul.