Reflection
Then a big thing happens
and your body changes.
You’ve got a new body.
New body bits.
And your mind struggles to know it.
Michael Rosen
I read an amazing poem this week by Michael Rosen, which is all about how it feels to live in a body that has changed. Our bodies are changing all the time of course, they aren’t static and nor are they meant to be. Sometimes though, those changes come more quickly than we would like, and can get used to.
There are times when I look in the mirror, and I can take a photo that reflects back at me a body I recognise, like the one above. It feels like me, and fits with my internal image of myself.
So many more times though, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I see a shape I don’t recognise, and it’s jarring, or I struggle to move in the way I need to, and it feels unfamiliar and strange. I am changing so quickly, and it is hard.
There is no avoiding our particular collection of cells though. The only thing to do is make friends with it. Learn to listen to it, love it. It’s the one relationship we can’t ever leave whilst we are alive.
It doesn’t walk away.
It’s always with you.
You have to get on together.
Michael Rosen
An absolutely stunning work of art and composition for the photo
There is a very thought-provoking and compassionate book, ‘Shapeshifters’ by Gavin Francis. It’s by a GP, with chapters on various types of changes that bodies experience, some willingly, some not – puberty, pregnancy, amputation, tattooing, etc. It’s been a while since I read it but I think self-acceptance was his recommendation, too.
This is such a gorgeous photo and such a beautiful and poignant piece of writing. ❤️
Thank you!
Your image is stunning, your words familiar. When our bodies have a momentary disruption, like stubbing a toe or pulling a muscle, we ride it out as we know it will go back to normal in time. We may not realize a change is more long term or chronic, so we often get stuck in that riding it out phase for far too long before we start to accept it and love our body as it is in it’s new state.
This is so true. I think I still believe half the time that I will eventually ‘get better’. Acceptance is hard.
This is so poignant. Our bodies are always our, even if they don’t behave themselves!
Thank you! Mine certainly isn’t!
Also it is a constant work in progress, that making friends with it. You have to keep doing it again and again. Thank you for sharing this.
Molly
Ps.. you are beautiful
It is indeed!
P.S. – thank you 🙂
Wow. Such a stunning picture. Got a hard-on the moment I saw. Classy!