Hello and welcome to the Gratitude Breakfast Club.
A quick morning meetup to help you jumpstart or maintain your gratitude practice.
We'll make it quick because we know you have things to do on this beautiful day.
Hello beautiful ones.
There are so many things that can go wrong with our bodies.
So let's just take a moment to recognize that we woke up today and are still here,
Filled with the potential of life.
Whether because of pain,
Or because of cultural standards,
Racism,
Capitalism,
And the ways that making us doubt our body's worth and beauty can reinforce the status quo,
Or be a moneymaker for a variety of companies,
We often dwell on what we perceive as wrong with our bodies.
But to enjoy our best lives,
It's important that we appreciate our bodies.
So today,
Let's do that,
Starting with our feet.
Strong feet and dexterous toes are important for both health and fitness.
They ward off falls,
Plantar fasciitis,
And shin splints.
They are responsible for mobility and balance.
You put four to six times your body weight through your feet when you walk,
Said Courtney Conley in a New York Times article.
She is the founder of Gate Happens,
A Colorado-based online education resource focused on foot health,
And 11 times your body weight when you run.
If we have them,
Our feet,
Quite literally,
Are our foundation.
If possible,
Shine a light of appreciation on your feet,
The feet that carry you through your days and nights,
The muscles,
Bones,
And tendons that bear the entirety of your weight.
What can you appreciate about your feet?
What situations did they carry you to or away from?
What dances have they danced?
What forest paths have they roamed?
What pleasure have they given you?
And what messages are they giving you now?
Did your feet walk you down an aisle to say,
Yes,
I will,
Or across a stage to acknowledge,
I did it,
Thank you?
Did your feet carry you away from situations that were unhealthy or had just come to their natural close?
Have your feet ever slammed on the car brakes and kept you and your loved ones safe?
Picture your baby feet,
Pudgy and soft or tiny and delicate,
As with your first steps they propelled you into a new era of wonder and awe.
Can you appreciate that even now,
Especially if they are not perfect,
Especially if they are sore or bunioned,
Swollen or achy,
That your feet may be carrying you on yet another journey,
One of mindful healing to step-by-step address what is keeping you from your optimal physical and mental well-being?
In your journal,
Take a moment to reflect.
What are you thankful for or do you appreciate about your feet?
With love,
Appreciation,
And gratitude,
This is Karen.
