January 2, 2010
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Dear body,
Dear feet, You take me everywhere I need to go. You put up with a lot, my friends. I’m sorry for making fun of how big you are, for cramming you into shoes that hurt, and for dressing you up in those ridiculous outfits I call mismatched socks. Thank you for taking it all, and not hating me when I run around barefoot all summer or spend too many hours kicking a soccer ball. You’ve been stepped on, you’ve stepped on things (sharp things), and you’ve taken a lot of abuse over the years. Yet you still let me use you to walk, to run, to play soccer, and to do other ridiculous things that I sometimes do. Thank you, feet.
Dear legs,
You, also, have undergone lots of abuse. I need you two most during soccer season, where you are pushed to your limits running miles each day, kicking thousands of soccer balls, and sometimes being kicked yourselves. You’ve put up with more bumps and bruises than you should have to. You’ve put up with the days I “forget” to wear shin guards, and the days I don’t acknowledge your pain or stretch enough. You held strong the day I pulled my hamstring and was being stupid enough to try to keep playing. You’re amzing, legs.
Dear stomach,
You let me feed you lots of junk food and surprisingly you don’t give out on me. You didn’t die last night when I ate too much and drank a bit too much of that sparkling grape juice. You also always endured thousands of crunches at soccer practices and days when I just wanted you to feel smaller. You’ve never let me down, stomach.Dear boobs,
I’m sorry for sometimes complaining about the size of you. You’re actually pretty okay. You fit nicely into dresses and I never have to worry about bra straps showing. You, like every other part of me, has also suffered abuse because of soccer. You know those days I didn’t quite jump high enough or just wasn’t paying attention. Ouch. I hope I haven’t hurt you too much.
Dear arms,
You are so strong. You endure me lifting things and you never let me down when I needed to arm wrestle someone. You are small, but so strong. You are wonderfully freckled in the summer and pale in the winter. You’ve held through for me through everything. I’ve never had any complaints about you, arms.Dear hands,
You’ve gone through much more than almost any other part of my body. I’m sorry for constantly calling you too big, for biting your beautiful nails off throughout the years, and for sometimes not using lotion as often as I should. Thank you for staying strong while I write for hours and you must type away at the keyboard and remember where each letter is, and for seven hours each day at school while I write away with a pencil which sometimes makes you cramp, but you never ever stop. Thank you so much, hands.
Dear hair,
I know I always complain about you, the way you are way too thick, too crazy, always in my face. You don’t get enough appreciation from me. I believe you are the one that is complimented most, and that you deserve. You are beautifully wavy and have a wonderful color. People often tell me you smell good, so you must be doing something right in that area. I’m going to show you off more, instead of pulling you into a ponytail where no one can see your beauty.
Dear face,
Face, you are beautiful and unique. I love your freckles most. Thank you for not being prone to acne and miraculously staying smooth even when I neglect to take care of you. Thank you for being beautiful without makeup.Dear eyes,
I have put you through a lot. I have “forgotten” to wear my glasses for most of this school year, and I strain you to see the board each and every day. You undergo hours of reading and writing and never give out on me. You are a beautiful color of blue and I don’t take enough care of you. Here’s a promise that I will wear my glasses more.
Dear ears,
I am probably killing you slowly while listening to music everyday. I blast all kinds of nonsense into you and turn up the volume until I can’t hear anything else around me. I hope you enjoy the beautiful music that I play, and I promise to play it a little quieter sometimes.Dear nose,
You go through lots of smells, from disgusting to delicious, and I thank you. You often just get stuffed up in the winter and then can’t smell anything at all. I’ll try not to end up with a cold this year.Dear mouth,
You are lucky because you get to taste lots of delicious things, but then again you are very unlucky. You’ve gone through countless dentist and orthodontist appointments, endured having six teeth pulled and the pain of braces. You held strong for me each month as they tightened those braces, and tolerated when all I could eat was jello and applesauce. You don’t complain when I accidently burn you on hot cholocate or keep tasting things that you’ve told me several times you don’t like. I understand, I’ll stop trying to like coffee. You also put up with all the chapstick I smear on your lips day after day, making you feel dry if I don’t use it. I will try to keep you moist, lips.
Dear body,
Thank you for being wonderful and beautiful and unique. I have grown to love you and every part of you. I vow from now on to accept you and be happy with what you are. You have done more than enough for me throughout the years and there are many years to come where I suspect you will continue to be good to me. Thank you, body.
