Bodies

sketch by my cousin kaylynne hatch

On Sunday in Relief Society, I taught a lesson about the Word of Wisdom. Can I just say that I love teaching? I love the challenge of making something exciting, of getting people thinking, and of making it an interactive experience without being annoying about it (do you know what I mean?). What could have potentially been a pretty boring lesson with stuff that we've all heard before turned out to be a really wonderful discussion.

Now, if you're not particularly religious, feel free to disregard this entire post. I don't want to step on anyone's toes. But I wanted to mention a comment that was made by a woman in the class. She talked about how Satan tries so hard to hurt women's bodies-- putting terrible thoughts in our heads, making us never feel good enough, leaning us toward unhealthy habits that physically harm us in various ways. Why does he do this specifically to women? Satan can never have a body like we do. If he can influence how we think about our own bodies and put these destructive ideas in our heads, we will fall apart. Even further, it could prevent us from having children, a gift specifically given to women. By tearing a woman down, future generations could be lost entirely.

I've heard this idea before, but it struck me hard this time. Maybe it's because my relationship with my body has changed over the last couple of years-- I've given it a beating in so many different ways, which is a shame, but at the same time, I'm more comfortable with myself than I've ever been before, again, in so many different ways. I've recognized the ways that Satan tears me down. I'm aware, and I'm finding ways to fight it. I don't always win, but I'm not going to stop fighting.

Take away message: your body is wonderful, it is beautiful, it is powerful, it is sacred. Love it, embrace it.