Don't Forget You're Perfect

I Have A Perfect Body

I have a perfect body. And I'm not afraid to say it.

Okay, maybe I am a little...

It was the second time this week that I smiled gently, yet deeply, as the thought crossed my mind, “I have a perfect body.”

I was seated in a thirty-minute silent meditation. After spending some moments quietly noticing my breath, I began to scan my body, beginning at the crown.

“Breathing in, I recognize that I still have a brain that thinks for me. Breathing out, I am grateful for my brain.”

“Breathing in, I realize that I still have eyes that see for me. I still have a nose that smells lovely roses and a mouth that tastes sweetness without effort. Breathing out, I am grateful for my eyes, nose and mouth.”

As I moved along, an inner wave of emotions warmed my organs and I found my lips slowly pulling upwards into a small smile.  

I was breathing in for my feet, when the conditioned thought crept into my mind about their rather large size and un-pedicured style. Before I could finish that thought, I said, “thinking”. I let go and continued with my meditation.

“Breathing out, I realize I still have two feet that walk for me.”

Not only that, but I can jump, I can run, I can hop and even balance on one foot or a few toes if I’d really like. And, I do all that without thinking. It just happens.

And so I smiled…

…Because I have a perfect body.

I am so very lucky. Man, I am SO lucky for the life I have been given and for the family & friends around me who support me. I really am. Without them, I'd be nothing. They keep me breathing and searching for more. And my own body keeps me breathing and searching for more. 

And, yet, how often I take all this for granted. There are so many people out there who do not have the privilege to see the rose bushes so clearly or walk effortlessly on two feet. I have these gifts and sometimes I just do not appreciate them.

In this moment of my meditation, I do. I appreciate my dear brain and beating heart. I want to hug my little legs because I live for the sensation of running down a sandy beach to the ocean that calls my name.

And then, awake from my meditation, and smiling blissfully, I see these words on paper.

“I have a perfect body.”

As I read them over, my smile gets nervous and I want to erase.

“What would people say if I spoke these words aloud?”

I imagined those who would laugh at my “imperfections”. My own mind is listing those areas I’d like to improve already!

I thought of those who would curse me. “How dare she? Who does she think she is?”

“Why is it so unnatural for us to love ourselves?” I ask.

Why is it nerve-wracking, or even taboo, to be proud of your body and declare it openly?

We were all born with perfect bodies. It is the way our minds become conditioned to perceive perfection that creates flaws. Even our weaknesses, when embraced fully, can be our most compelling, inspiring and motivating attributes.

We are all works in progress- yes, that is true. I am not saying that we are perfect in every sense of the word. I am just saying that we were created this way for a reason. The freckles have been placed out of perfection. It is the mind’s eye that says “they are ugly” or “they are beautiful”.

When I start to pick on myself for one area or another that is a-little-more-of-a-work-in-progress, I ask myself, “How does this weakness serve me? What does this giant red pimple on my chin encourage me to do?”

For if I did not have this lovely gem, blaring in my face, I would most likely continue to eat as much chocolate and do as much yoga without showering, that I so please. But, sometimes we need these pleasant little reminders.

Clearly, there are much larger obstacles to worry about: a broken leg, a serious infection, etc. But often times, those too can open our eyes to something we may have been oblivious to before.

I love a song by Regina Spektor that sings “I have a perfect body, ‘cause my eyelashes catch my sweat.”

That was the first time I smiled deeply this week.

Take some time to smile for your eyelashes and the beautiful way our bodies work effortlessly for us. 

There’s so much of that in the world that we forget is perfect. 

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If you need some reminders of your perfection, you can shop for a little hand-made jewelry piece here: http://www.byhappiness.org . My lovelies in El Salvador would always remind me that I have something to smile for, no matter how gorda I had gotten from all the tortillas.