For most of us, the only naked body we see is our own and we can be very harsh judges. We compare ourselves to other people wearing clothes (which is apples and oranges) and we gauge how we measure up with the bodies we see in magazines and on TV or social media. It’s easy to come out on the short end of the stick in the comparison game. 

 

Like most of us, I’m body conscious when trying on clothes and swimsuits, preparing for a beach vacation wearing much less clothing than I do in real life. Every time I arrive on vacation, however, I’m reminded that there are literally millions of different bodies and body types and what really matters is the heart of a person. Who really cares which bathing suit we decided to bring or how we look in our clothes, besides us? 

 

Someone close to me once didn't allow herself the pleasure of swimming with her small children for a period of several years. She wouldn’t dare put on a swimsuit due to some extra pounds. Finally, she realized she was missing out on making memories with her kids for no good reason and she started doing water activities with them again.

 

We must move beyond an attachment to our bodies as a sign of status or worth. They truly mean nothing in that regard, though I know firsthand it’s hard to suspend that ingrained belief. We have to celebrate what our bodies do for us and their faithful service to us while on this earth. Aging may change things but let's appreciate what we can still do.

 

While on vacation, my college roommate and I went to the nightclub one night to get our groove on after dinner. Sure, we felt a little out of place among all the twenty-somethings but we didn’t care. (My 23 year-old son cared a lot and was very anxious for us to leave!) Between her exercise-induced asthma and my knees, we lasted about fifteen minutes. We were able to laugh about the signs of age we experience and celebrate that we had a great fifteen minutes on the dance floor almost like old times. 

 

While our bodies may not be able to do everything now that they did in our twenties, if we’re breathing, we still have many reasons to be grateful for our physical selves regardless of what they look like on the outside. Today I hope you celebrate what your body does for you and remember that you are special from the inside out.