What Her Body Thought
Here we are again talking about how to break the stereotypical rotten-body-image thing that most American females are restricted by, and find a more shalom-like way to acknowledge, relate to, and treat our bodies.
None of us seem sure of how to get there, but that’s okay, I’m pretty good at stumbling around in the dark until we can light one candle.
Here’s my question for today, what are the absolute basic necessities for you as your body. I’m not talking about what you should be doing according to the latest Hollywood trainer or even according to your wholesome good-spirited naturopath. I’m talking about what you intuitively know to be bedrock-necessary for your body given who you are and how you are at this stage in your life.
Don’t know the answer? Do what Jen always tells me to do: get very quiet and be very brave and spend some time with your journal. Or if you are a kinetic learner, try taking a walk without your headphones. It will come to you. Your body – you – knows what you need.
I find I need to do this a couple of times a year, usually when I’ve let one of my bedrock needs fall out of my daily rhythm. Some of the things on my list remain the same, while others change with health, season, and age. I find that there are usually more than three and less than ten. If I get more than ten, I’ve drifted out of “bedrock” and into “preference” or “shoulds.” Here are mine for the present:
What I (as my Body) Need Right Now
Silence while working and driving.
Sleep from 10pm-7am.
Gentle exercise everyday.
To drink water after 3pm.
To honor my fullness and my hunger.
To knit and write every day – and consequently to ice my wrist every night.
What are yours?
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I have to have at least nine hours of sleep a night to function well on any given day. No caffeine after noon (if at all). No food or homework within two hours of going to sleep. Seeing some sunlight (if there’s any to be found) and spending a bit of time outdoors every day, even if for just a short walk.
I’m also going to read “The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment” by Babette Rothschild to honor my body this month.
Thank you for the reminder that my body has the wisdom required for its health and well being. Even though at the end of the day when I realize, once again, I haven’t listened well, but have overrided the requests of my physical self, I am grateful for a new day in which to listen.
Grace, grace, always more grace.
Practice and practice, step by step our intentions become our actions.
Shalom, Christine
eyes: either sunrise or sunset, no ifs ands or buts. it’s my perspective fix.
feet: to be as bare as possible or practical
arms: need to wrap around someone
tummy: good chai, ginger or mint tea… for inner balance and clarity
zzzs: enough to keep me sane… 6 or 7 hours
ears: much silence in the early waking of morning and dark late of night
voice: to share the “least-est” and “most-est” of my day with my house-sisters
heart: to be in community… what more needs to be said?
touch, my body needs touch. Not necessarily sexual in nature, but the closeness of another human, a hand on my arm.
Becky,
mmmm… I remember once while I was in graduate school (and already married) I hugged a single guy friend of mine and he said, “Wow. Do you know how long it’s been since _anybody_ touched me?” It was a real awakening for me…
R
i need:
eight hours in bed per night
quiet for the first 30-60 minutes i am awake
either olives, strawberries, yogurt or shredded wheat, or perhaps edamame per day
hugs hugs kisses on the forehead, play with my hair
today is my birthday!
i need blogs like this.
Oh! Happy Birthday you wonderful you!
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