An excerpt from a blog by Sharmiladhungana  

NEPAL: A Letter to My Body

Dear Body,

Do you remember the day I…   (read the whole story here) 

That experience with you shook me in a strange way. I felt waves of shame and disbelief course through me. Although you had lived with me all my life, I had never paid close attention to you.

I realized then that I did not have the slightest idea of who you were. 

“You see, nobody taught me to pay you any attention. You have always been here with me, but I never looked you in the eye or started a conversation with you. At best, I treated you like a worn out souvenir from an old friend—something that you can’t get yourself to throw out but don’t want to keep either.”

“I am learning now, my dear Body, to observe and appreciate all your minute details—the little wrinkles on your forehead, a patch of light skin over your eyebrows, your eyes set deep, the scattered little dots on your cheeks, the thin scar on your palm, a mole on the inside of your left arm, and the subtle color of the veins in your wrists.”

“I am starting to know all parts of you, and I am learning to love and groom you in the way you deserve. Through you, I am also discovering how to experience the sacredness and divinity you possess. I am sorry, dear Body, that I didn’t start this sooner.”

“If I have a daughter one day, I will put a full-length mirror in her room. I’ll lead her by her little fingers and let her see herself in the mirror. I’ll proudly proclaim, “Look at yourself; you are nothing but divine,” and tell her, “Sweetheart, run your fingers over the smoothness of your skin. Get to know all its cracks and crevices, and love it all you can!”    

After all, what could be more empowering than knowing your own body and immersing yourself in its love?

Dear Body, I promise I will not let you down again.

I will give you all the care and affection that you yearned for all those years. I will make you proud you chose me.

Yours sincerely,

Sharmila

4GGL thanks World Pulse for this story! 

and Mary Lambert for her video:  Body Love 

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