MenopauseMenu guest blog post by Harmonie Grace E. Lee, DPT.
For many women, our relationship with our body changes throughout our lives. Often, we are taught to view our bodies only through a lens of criticism.
From a young age, we might have heard our mothers sighing over sagging skin or ample thighs. As preteens, we experimented with dieting and makeup to hide our flawed skin, our too-big noses.
As adults, we may have seen our body change with pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and surgeries. Cancer and injury may leave their mark. Infertility can bring a level of betrayal and frustration towards our bodies.
And yet, our body persists.
The only home we will ever know, bearing witness to the life that we have fought for.
Our body quietly continues to carry us from place to place, letting us see, hear, and feel the world around us.
We don’t always take good care of our body. We feed it a diet of delicious-but-not-nutritious meals, deprive it of sleep, and we altogether avoid taking it out for some exercise.
Despite our neglect, our body continues to do its best. Our body never holds a grudge. It gives and gives until there is nothing left to give.
Many people make New Years’ resolutions, determined to shed the weight, to get in shape, to never eat ice cream again.
These resolutions come from the same place of criticism that we were in when we anxiously searched through our closets in middle school for a shirt that would make us look slimmer.
It’s time to leave the criticism behind.
It’s time to take care of your body as well as your body takes care of you.
Give your body good, nutritious food that it can use to repair and grow.
Give your body the restful sleep it needs at night to awaken feeling refreshed the next day.
Give your body some exercise, to help your muscles and bones stay strong, to keep your heart healthy.
Most importantly, take care of your body like your body is your best friend. It’s given everything to you.
It is your best friend.
Harmonie Grace E. Lee, DPT lives in Fairbanks, Alaska and works at Bassett Army Community Hospital. She is an orthopedic and pelvic health physical therapist who is passionate about helping women to enjoy being in their bodies.