“I don’t know what I’d wish for…”

This discussion ensued upon learning a local man had hit the jackpot in the lottery.

“A new body”, he said.

He was joking but I was still quick to inform, “No, I love my body.”

While a little surprised that it came out without any thought, I really did mean it.

This was not always the case. It’s been a long road getting here.

I certainly don’t measure up to society’s standard of perfection. What the hell is that, anyway? Doesn’t exist.

But the struggle to either reach that ideal or rail against it is very real for most women.

Despite the extra 20 lbs I carry that is too much for my height, the thickening of my middle, the saddlebags on my hips and this new weird thing happening to my neck that looks amazingly similar to my mother’s weird neck thing, I do love my body.

As I write this, I am nursing a very badly sprained ankle. After 2 weeks laid up, I am just starting to be able to walk on it throughout the day.

And despite all of these things, or maybe because of them, I do love my body.

I don’t see aging as my body betraying me; I see these changes as very necessary for carrying me through the next half of my life.

Cases in point:

I have broad shoulders – surprisingly, these literally changed shape and size in my late 40s… and I believe not coincidentally as I stepped into a leadership role with women. I see this metaphorically as my body changing to help me hold and support the women in my personal and professional lives.

My immune system is incredibly healthy and I work to keep it that way – I haven’t been sick in years despite all of the illness around me.

I am mentally and spiritually strong – this lifelong, cultivated strength has allowed me to have a spectrum of experiences that I integrate and pass on for the benefit of the women I work with.  

We each get to choose how we see every single thing that happens in our lives.

Through what lens are you looking at your life?

Love or fear?

Scarcity or abundance?

Regret over what was or curiosity for what could be?

You only get this one life.

Your perception informs reality… choose wisely.