The things you take for granted someone else is praying for. Be Thankful.

Bleh. Today’s the day I make light of my body.

Originally when you see “body” is the theme you might assume it’s about weight, height, or shape, and for some people it might be. But, I’m fortunate in that area because I’m an average height, rather thin, chicken-legged, stick-shaped person. I know, I’m lucky. People see my flexibility, my long, thick hair, my tiny arms, and layers of clothes. Many people see my dietary restrictions but say “I wish I ate as healthy as you.”

What they don’t see though, is my illness. They don’t see the pain I experience every day. My blood pooling and blood pressure plummeting. Or my hands turning purple and feet going numb from the cold. People don’t see the stomach cramping and pains that crush my insides. The running to the bathroom or rocking on the floor in the fetal position. They don’t see the number of times I wake up each night and can’t go back to sleep because of pain. Or the popping of my joints. The tears I’ve shed from social anxieties, food cravings, nausea, and new diagnoses. The reality that is my life, behind closed doors.

So, my body isn’t the greatest. It’s not the most comfortable to live in every day. But you know what, it’s all I’ve got. This is the life I’ve been given, the path God chose for me, and I’m going to make the best of it. I’m going to learn from everything my body teaches me and use it to understand my patients. I will embrace every ounce of pain that allows me to appreciate all the good times. I will remember the sleepless nights and wake up thankful for the short ones. But most importantly, I will love my body. I will love every flaw, every hurt, every syndrome, every wrinkle; because it makes me who I am today. And I love who I am. So I’m willing to embrace the body I have, for what’s inside of it. I’ve got blue eyes, a thin figure, and some awesome clumsiness and perhaps, more importantly, heart and personality behind it all. I’m gonna rock this body and be proud of it. Or at least I’m going to tell myself that when I don’t believe it myself.

What problems do you have with your body and how do you overpower them by thinking about the positives?