Welcome to the last installment of the Gifts of the Body series. See the previous posts below:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3

Remember, each week we take a day to thank our bodies for what they do for us. Our bodies provide us the miracle of life and the ability to enjoy it. We need to thank them for their strength and what they provide, instead of wishing they looked different or did more. I’ll start us off!

My Immune System

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I thank my immune system and everything that works together to keep me healthy. I am lucky that I do not get sick too often, despite being exposed to things from Makenzie and her little kid friends. My body works well to keep me functioning at my best. Thank you body, for taking care of me.

My Hair

I used to always complain about my hair. It was too thin, too straight, got stringy, and didn’t hold shape. Now, I thank my hair for being simple to style and the perfect length to pull back in a ponytail. I thank my hair for complementing my features well and having a nice natural color. And for looking decent upon first awaking…like above. 😀

My Ears

I thank my ears for allowing me to hear so many beautiful sounds – Makenzie’s giggles, Peter’s loving and encouraging words, music, the sound of the ocean, the crunching of fall leaves, the preacher’s words and the songs of worship each Sunday.

What are you thankful for from your body today? Try to think of something different! 😀

• A Fit and Spicy Life
• Running to a Healthy Life
• Making A Change
• Adventures in Cooking, Weight Loss, and Life
• Ulterior Harmony

I’ve mentioned before on this blog the difficulty I face with resting. Doing nothing. Letting things go and taking a break. The need to rest can be hard to accept because we want to believe we can do it all. We want to have control and make certain that our actions achieve the results we desire. We want to feel proud for our achievements.

I know I have tried getting up early to cram more into my day. I eventually felt so exhausted all the time that I accomplished less overall. I had no energy! I have avoided taking rest days from workouts to fit in all the things I “should” to lose weight. I ended up taking a couple weeks off from an extremely achy body and lacked motivation to return. Even now, I fill my schedule and don’t get enough genuine rest from doing and going in my everyday life. I take time each day for things I enjoy, but rarely does that include a moment of nothing.

Our minds and bodies need rest. They need moments of peace regularly. It helps rejuvenate us so we can feel strong and capable of facing life. It gives us time to decompress and appreciate our lives. Rest enables us to continue growing into the people we aim to be. Without rest, we turn into empty vessels, drained of life and the energy to live it. I know those days when I find a time to relax and calm myself, I can handle so much more. I continue to learn the lesson of needing rest. I forget so easily, but always seek it out with time.

How will you rest today? I have a very busy weekend ahead with my friend’s wedding. I will begin by taking 10 minutes this morning to just sit quietly with no distractions. Then, during yoga, I will love every moment of savasana. 😉

Check out these bloggers who shared their personal 30 DSLR reflections:

• Respectfully Captivating
• Ulterior Harmony