Dear Body: I’m Sorry I Signed You Up For This Race

Dear Body,

You have been my vehicle in which I have sprinted a never-ending race towards a taunting, forever-moving finish line.

A finish line that was always in sight, seemingly one step away, carrying the promise of being enough.

Calves burning, stomach boiling… I dragged you on this race.

I was fueled by the allure of the finish line; a promise that once I crossed, it would mean that I was worthy.

I made sacrifices to fight for my place in the race. I turned things I love into a contingency of worth as a person.

No achievement was ever enough to take me across the finish
line, so I kept running, sacrificing more with every pace.

I watched as I lost friends, interests, and any feeling of happiness; convinced it would eventually be enough to carry me across the finish
line.

Considering all that I sacrificed, what I did to you felt trivial, just another way to reach the finish line.

I should have known that like everything else, I would never be enough for anorexia.

I only wanted what everyone said was healthy, because maybe then I would be worthy.

The sacrifices I made for anorexia promised a spot across the finish line.

My dear body…

I know that I have hurt you. That misconceptions about food and exercise have brought me one heartbeat away from death.

That I ignored you when I needed your guidance most.

I now ask forgiveness for how I have hurt you.

The chore of my pain is a moving finishing line. So I withdraw from the race.

Instead of trying to prove my worthiness through tangible achievement, I will spend my life with people who reinforce the belief that who I am, silly, weird, nerdy, and kind, is enough.

On the days that the monsters of bad body image and shame cripple me, I will remind myself, that when I am happy, I am enough.

So I promise I will listen to you. Respect you. Trust you. 

With love, Me