30 days of self love – gifts of the body

Posted: September 2, 2010 at 8:00 am

First off I want to say thank you for the overwhelming support of this movement! I never fathomed something I care about and believe in so strongly would actually inspire so many to action. Now, we must keep that first spark flaming and build it even stronger. Stick with me to help continue to make this something beautiful to reach our inner thirst and touch the lives around us in the process.

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Do you remember the little song “my body’s nobody’s body but mine…”? We each have a unique body gifted to us. That gift values more highly than anything else in our possession. Or that we could ever possess. Yet, we tend to see our body as rags instead of riches.

What would do you if you didn’t have your hands to craft words on paper (or screen)? What would you do if you didn’t have arms to embrace a loved one? Legs to run? Eyes to experience the beauty of this world? Picture life without any single part of your body.

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Our bodies bring us so much opportunity and life. We must cherish the bodies we have, with all their quirks, soft spots, or pains. They do not deserve the abuse which we expose them to on a regular basis, both physically and mentally.

Even if they can’t do all the things we hope or look the way we desire, our bodies still require love. If you had someone in your life who supported you in every way imaginable, wouldn’t you want to show that person your appreciation? Our bodies are that entity. Let’s show them a little bit of thanks today and throughout this month of self-love.

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Once a week, we will have a day devoted to sharing three things our bodies do for us and why we love that part of ourselves. We will do this each week so we can genuinely focus on a few things at a time we appreciate about our bodies. Take a few moments to focus deeply on three aspects of your body today and thank them. I’ll go first.

I thank my heart for working hard endless hours of the day and night to pump blood through my body. Without you, heart, I would not be here to play with my daughter, love my husband, and share my message.

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I thank my smile for the kindness it shows. You may have a small gap in the front two teeth and you may not be the whitest, but that makes you (and me) unique and beautiful. I thank you, smile, for the ability you have to display my care and happiness.

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I thank my “baby place” for carrying my children. I thank you for how you know just what to do. And that you give me 9 months to prepare. 😉

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Now, it’s your turn. Reflect on your body’s gifts. Then declare… “I thank my ______” for each. Share at least one in the comment section to inspire others of the truly miraculous gifts of the body.

Quote to Reflect On
We don't stop at our skin.  ~Dolores Krieger

*To be added to the email list and receive links to the posts in the morning, please let me know of your interest in a comment below.

*For more 30 Days Inspiration visit these bloggers who shared the message and let me know if you do so.

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152 Comments to “30 days of self love – gifts of the body”
  1. Lauren says:

    I am thankful for my legs and feet that help me move and exercise, my lungs for helping me take in deep breaths of fresh air, and my taste buds to help me enjoy chocolate 🙂

  2. Amelia says:

    I’m thankful for my legs – especially my thighs! I used to think my thighs were too big. I hated how they rubbed together and how they flattened out when I sat down. I didn’t like wearing shorts and skirts were out of the question.

    Then I started running. And I realized my thighs were hugely important for my new love. As I ran through half and full marathons I came to appreciate my strong thighs! Instead of being embarrassed of them I am proud.

  3. Anna says:

    I thank my feet for giving me the ability to walk, to cover miles, to skate, to bike, to get me to my next destination.

  4. lu says:

    I thank my arms for being able to draw and write.

    I thank my brain for working so hard for me.

    I thank my legs for taking me where I want.

  5. […] Day 2 of 30 Days of Self Love, Tina talked about how much we criticize or hate our bodies, even when they […]

  6. […] physical appearance, don’t dwell on it. Simply look at it and move on (without forgetting the gifts of the body though ). When looking for yourself and your worth…look to the more defining qualities you […]

  7. Racheal says:

    I thank my heart/blood. I donated blood last Thursday and I am thankful that my body will allow me to help save someone else’s life by allowing me to donate blood and then my body will just make new blood. Without me doing a thing.

    • Tina says:

      What a FABULOUS thing to be thankful for! I would never have thought of it. 🙂 And thanks for your support and interest in the 30 days. I really appreciate your comments and look forward to hearing more from you. 🙂

  8. Melissa says:

    I love this! I’m going to start a “Self Love” challenge on my blog if that’s ok with you (I’ll reference your blog each time!). I think this is such a wonderful effort. We really need to show our appreciation for what we have (whether bigger, smaller, rounder, fitter) than another because it’s way too easy for it all to be taken away from us. Let me know what you think about having an extension of your Self Love 🙂

    • Tina says:

      Go for it!! I would love for this to extend out to others and sharing such a positive message needs to happen as much as possible. Thanks for being willing to share some link love as well. 🙂

      • Myomin says:

        Doyle should be asamhed of himself calling himself a traditionalists of bluegrass music. You never use a stupid electric bass and drum (give a break) in bluegrass music. What a sorry excuse of calling himself a traditionalist. You do not see other true grass groups down grading bluegrass as he is doing. Maybe he can receive a few of rap singers to be a component of the non bluegrass group. The circus will likely be coming through town in the few weeks. Maybe he can pickup a few clowns then. So So sad.

  9. […] brings us this week’s installment of the Gifts of the Body series within the 30 DSLR. Click for Part 1 and Part 2. We need to grow to appreciate every part of our bodies. We need to love them for the […]

  10. […] posts titles “Gifts of the Body” were my favorite because for so long I have beaten up my own body – eating too much or too […]

  11. Jenn says:

    I am thankful for my legs for allowing me to dance, walk, run, jump, and skip.
    I am thankful for my smile which helps me show people how much I care, admire, love, laugh.
    I am thankful for my heart, which pumps blood through my body and allows me to live each and every day.

  12. […] What would that say if I shied away because posting such an exposed picture could strike fear in a woman’s (aka my) heart? Haven’t I worked long and hard to grow into a more self-loving person? Shouldn’t my actions speak louder than my words which claim I feel proud of my body and all it provides me? I spent an entire 30 Days working to share a message of loving ourselves, inside and out, including appreciating the gifts of our bodies. […]

  13. […] physical appearance, don’t dwell on it. Simply look at it and move on (without forgetting the gifts of the body though ). When looking for yourself and your worth…look to the more defining qualities you […]

  14. […] Your body does miraculous things. It carries you through life and gives you the physical capacity to do many things you love. It provides health and vitality to enjoy all life has to offer. Your body is pretty freaking awesome!! Never forget the gifts of your body. […]

  15. Rachel says:

    i thank my legs (as they tend to be what i focus most negatively on) for allowing me to run, leap, dance, walk, swim, and so much more! without them, life would be so much less fun!

  16. […] for her many followers and readers to consider and reflect upon. Today is day two and the theme is: gifts of the body. Sounds ominous, so I should read more! We each have a unique body gifted to us. That gift values […]

  17. Deborah says:

    Hi Tina

    I’m really enjoying this challenge – though do wish I’d participated along with everyone else in September last year!!!

    Interestingly, I am most thankful for those parts of my body that I’ve seen fail on others, particularly my father. While thinking about this exercise and reading other bloggers’ comments it became obvious that I’m not alone in not appreciating my body in the way I should. I take my health for granted, but I should know better.

    http://dietschmiet.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/30-days-day-2-gifts-of-the-body/

    Deborah

  18. I am thankful for my strong and powerful legs, even though at times I wish them away, for propelling me in running, walking, and moving wherever I need to go in my day.

    I am thankful for my eyes that allow me to see all the people and things around me that I love: my husband, sister, our backyard view, and the flowers I love so much at market.

    I’m thankful for my hands and long fingers, which allow me to type, journal, hold, help, and give acts of love.

    A great challenge once again – thanks for the challenge and encouragement!

    My blog about the challenge: http://rewardsofsimplelife.blogspot.com/2011/07/cooking-freezing-and-self-love.html

  19. […] Your body does miraculous things. It carries you through life and gives you the physical capacity to do many things you love. It provides health and vitality to enjoy all life has to offer. Your body is pretty freaking awesome!! Never forget the gifts of your body. […]

  20. […] day 2 of the series I started yesterday.  I’m still not sure if I will keep posting every day on […]

  21. Kinley says:

    I just started my blog on Friday and randomly came across your blog yesterday from Clean Eating Chelsey but decided this would be a great way for me to get started! I feel like nothing but good will come from starting this 🙂 I have slipped back into being extremely hard on myself and negative about myself so I know this will be great for me! Thank you for keeping this up for people to find even though the series has ended!!!

    I am thankful for my bones that remain unbroken, eyes that can see what is before me and where I have come from and legs that carry me everywhere and then some!

  22. Xandria says:

    I am thankful for my hands for helping me write, play instruments, eat, bathe, hold my favorite peoples’ hands, and basically all other essential parts of life. I may never be a hand model because my fingers don’t straighten all the way by a tiny bit, but I still love them.
    I am thankful for my ears to allow me to hear the voices of loved ones, the sound of nature, and beautiful music, which has saved my life more than once.
    I am thankful for my legs for holding me up well everyday and giving me wonderful posture. I may bump into things a lot and bruise them by accident. And they may be big and muscular, but I love those too.
    <3

 

 
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