Do You Treat Your Body like a Mechanical Horse?

Posted by LeeAnn on March 29th, 2010 at 09:49am

“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results.”
– Anon

Have you ever noticed that as horsewomen we spend LOTS of time pondering the right supplement, choice of feed and other goodies that help our ponies stay healthy and in tip top shape? We read up on all the new ideas for nutritional needs so that our horses have the best chance of staying fit and flexible.  But for ourselves….. often we are too tired to think ahead or to plan what would be optimal nutrition for our own body’s needs. Somehow, we put ourselves on the back burner.

So what’s up with that???

I for one have treated my body rather poorly.  I have expected it to respond at a seconds notice and have been shy on the daily attention and maintenance.  My body has been a source of emotional pain and in many ways I have been willing to disregard its existence.   Ok, that may be a little dramatic but it is true.  I haven’t treated my body with the same respect and loving care I gave my horses.

So I have called a truce.  It is not my body that is at war with me, rather it is me at war with my body.  What if I treated myself with the same love and affection I give to my 4-legged friends?

I am taking the next 90 days to fall in love with my body.  I have decided that I want the next 40 or so years of my life to be filled with gratitude and unconditional love for the vehicle that allows me to play so profoundly in this world.  Will you join me?

I am not suggesting a diet.  I am not suggesting some over the top workout program.   I am suggesting a process of discovery.

Just for this next week are you willing to pay attention to your body’s needs?

How much water do you offer yourself?

How much sleep do you provide yourself?

Do you take time to savor each bite you feed yourself or are you a gulp and runner?  Do you only eat until full?

Do you notice when you are hungry?  Are you feeding emotional hunger or physical hunger?

Are you eating fresh fruits and veggies or what comes out of a box?

Do you stretch? Do you move your body other than horse related activities?

Do you practice daily meditation?

Have you built in time for laughter, fun and play?

What do you put before your needs?

Let me know what you discover for a week.  You are worth taking the time to focus on you – after all, no you – no fabulous experiences in the physical world…

I offer this affirmation for this week…

I now take time for me.  I slow down and become present to my needs and the needs of my physical body.  I deserve self-care.  I deserve to be the best me possible.  In taking time for me, I have more to give and more to offer.  I feed only my physical hunger.  I allow myself to have pleasure in my life each day!

To learn a new way of being with our bodies, first we have to become conscious about what we are currently doing.  All you have to do is pay attention for one week.  Write down what you notice daily.   Nobody is going to read your discoveries but you.

What do you think?

Until next week,

The Divine Cowgirl

(photo credit: extranoise)

Under Relationship+ With our bodies