Why Being Grateful Will Make You Healthier

My body isn’t perfect, far from it. It has fat rolls, cellulite, and stretch marks. But in spite of its flabby appearance, I’ve learned to appreciate it and be thankful for it.

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I have a love-hate relationship with my body.

Sometimes I can’t even look at it. I hate the stretch marks, the cellulite, the fat rolls, and the emergency c-section scar that runs from my belly button to my navel. I despise all of that.

But sometimes I love it. My body is always there for me. I know I can rely on it to be strong and healthy. In fact, I think it’s truly exceptional.

Although I have a complicated relationship with my body, I’m sure I appreciate it. I’ve been in situations where I don’t have full function of my body and it’s been a living hell. As much as I hate it sometimes, I know I’m thankful for everything it does for me.

I’ve learned that appreciation and gratitude towards my body are the first steps towards health and fitness. If you want to look and feel better, you have to love your body first, no matter what it looks like. Otherwise, you’ll end up choosing quick fix methods that will harm and torture your body.

Love your body in spite of its flaws and flabby appearance, and you’ll want to do what is best for it.

This is why I’m thankful for my body

• I’m thankful my body rarely gets sick. It only falls sick with the flu maybe once a year, and it usually fights it off within three days.
• I’m thankful my body isn’t hurting. I’m 41 years old and my joints don’t hurt, and that’s a major issue. I know people younger than me who already have bad knees and a bad back.
• I’m thankful my body looks young. Like I said, I’m in my forties, but people tell me I look like I’m in my thirties. No gray hair. Hardly any wrinkles. Really thankful for that!
• I’m thankful my body carried three children. I had my first child through natural childbirth, no epidural or meds. I had my second child through an emergency c-section, and I almost bled to death. I had my third child after a difficult pregnancy and another c-section which hurt like hell. But my body withstood it all and bounced back. Awesome.
• I’m thankful my body is strong. I can lift my own weight with my arms and my legs can carry me far. I feel I could walk across the country if I had to.
• I’m thankful my body is healthy. My family is prone to diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis, but I have none of that. At least, not yet.
• I’m thankful my body is agile. I have good reflexes and I’m still pretty flexible, so I’m not prone to injury if I fall.

This is how I’m taking care of my body

I’m truly thankful for my body. Even though there are things I don’t like about it, I still try to take care of it as best as I can.

• I’m thankful for my body, so I make sure it gets at least 30 minutes of activity every day. If a body doesn’t move enough, it can deteriorate quickly.
• I’m thankful for my body, so I try to feed it the healthiest food possible. I generally avoid processed food and I eat at least one serving of produce with every meal. I also drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.
• I’m thankful for my body, so I give it at least 6 hours of rest every night.
• I’m thankful for my body, so I try to set aside a little while every week to pamper it. A facial mask, or a hair mask, or a bubble bath make your body feel much better.
• I’m thankful for my body, so I don’t harm it with drugs, cigarettes or excessive alcohol. I don’t want my body to break down before its time.
• I’m thankful for my body, so I don’t torture it with crash diets, weight-loss pills, or yo-yo dieting. I keep a healthy diet and workout to keep a stable weight and a sound mind.

This is what I should do for my body

Of course, there are even more things I could do for my body. I know I’ve neglected my health from time to time and my body has suffered because of this.

I know nobody’s perfect, but honestly, if I had taken better care of my body throughout my life, it would be in much better shape than it is today.

• I should stop canceling my dentist’s appointments. I have to stop putting off the procedures I need.
• I should get a breast exam and a pap. Those might be bothersome, but they can catch cancer early.
• I should visit the dermatologist every year and check for moles. I wear sunscreen every single day, but I did spend a good part of my life enjoying the sun without remorse. You never know.
• I should be more present and mindful. Stress can do a number on the body, so having a peaceful mind helps to keep a body healthy.

My body is the only one I’ll ever have, so I need to take good care of it. This is especially important for me because I’ve seen how disease and chronic illness can take life away from a body in the most tragic of ways.

Too often, people take their health for granted, and when they no longer have their health, they sadly discover they can’t buy it back. Health, not money, is the real wealth.

Be thankful for your body, take care of it, and never take it for granted. Your body can do many amazing things as long as you provide it with a little loving care.

How are you thankful for your body?

This post was originally published in my Medium publication, The Word Tree.