I've been absent – perhaps you've been on the edge of your seat wondering when you will hear from me? No? Oh well, a girl can dream! Special thanks to Krysta and team for checking in on me!
As we head into the middle of August, shocked yet again by how fast summer goes, I truly hope you have been making some wonderful memories – and if not, there's still time!
As for me, this month, as most months, I am doing a daily challenge to increase awareness, focus and appreciation – and to help me make discoveries I've yet to discover!
Each day this month, I've been highlighting a different body part, internal or external. Doing a little research on how I can take better care of said part and giving it a little well-deserved love.
This idea may have sprung from my recent 3-day hospital stay when my body surprised me in various ways (I'm fine now, thanks to the great care at our local rural hospital ). Nonetheless, the incident highlighted how often we take our bodies for granted and how little attention we pay to them when things are going well. Then all of a sudden – hello – we are paying so much attention to our bodies.
Perhaps you'd like to join me in some version of this body awareness/appreciation?
What might that look like in your world?
Today, I paid special attention to my hands – dang, they are amazing! And so, I wrote a little ode to them...
These Hands
It occurs to me how little I think about my hands.
When was the last time I said thank you for all they do, all they have done and all they will do for me?
It's a given we have hands – but is it really? Ask my friend, Alvin. He has no hands, never has, never will.
So really, then, These Hands are a gift.
These Hands have held newborn babies and comforted those taking their last breaths.
These Hands have clapped in solidarity, been raised in prayer and hung down in defeat.
They have worn rings of love, have been both polished and dirty and have changed and aged as the decades passed.
With little fanfare, they have opened jars and fed me, wiped my tears and those of others. With no complaints, they have even wiped my butt and the butts of others – when the need has arisen, and it has - many times.
They have opened presents and windows and doors.
These Hands have caressed and been caressed; they have discovered the word tender.
These Hands have felt the countless textures of nature and the varied furs of animals. They have tested water – both too hot and too cold – making sure it is 'just right' for my needs.
Thank you, Hands. I'm sorry I forgot that you helped me across monkey bars, covered my eyes for hide-and-seek, gripped tight to ride my bike and my motorcycle and held poles to ski. You let me play ball and Frisbee and cards and games, and, and, and. So many things.
I forgot to say thank you for helping me write a love letter and type out a book (or two or three), for allowing me to point to things I wanted when I was too young to talk and to point to things I love now so I can share them with others. 'Look' – without a finger to point – just loses something.
Thank you for helping me count on my fingers when I was little and, er, well, sometimes even now those fingers come in handy for math problems.
Thank you for allowing me to strum a ukulele and a guitar, which allowed me to connect more deeply with a 2-year-old and a 92-year-old. For helping me turn the pages of books and make art, even if it's just at a kindergarten level.
Thank you for helping me cook dinner for my family, fill my car with gas and care for patients and hold a microphone and make a living since I was a 15-year old waitress. Thank you for helping me make a life.
I'm sorry I have used you to scold and to hit, that I have let you get cold and uncomfortable and that I have taken you for granted for so, so long.
You don't have to be perfect to be valued. I look at you now, getting a little veiny and gnarled (it's okay, I still love you), and think wow – if you could talk, you would tell me so much. You would remind me of all you've felt and experienced – maybe what it was like from your point of view?
I'm interested now. I want to know.
Instead, I'll put some lotion on you, massage it in as gently and lovingly as I can and, with each stroke, say thank you to These Hands.
Perhaps you might think this should be a picture of my hands - but these toes, which I've hated since I was young, are next to be appreciated. They can pick up pretty much anything and these toes are the only long and skinny part of me - but what a delight it is now to paint them a multitude of colours and draw attention to them instead of wanting to hide them. Ta0
What are you ready to appreciate about your amazing body?
No? Maybe you'd prefer this challenge?
Stephanie Staples
Contact Me
