…and Experiencing the Gift you were Given
The gift of life, given to you by your mother, with a contribution from me, is housed in the entity that is your body. Each of you are blessed to have one that is all intact, that functions normally. You’ve had bumps and bruises, injuries, viruses and infections, and you’ve grown, and continue to grow. The second half of the miracle of your birth is that you keep growing. You don’t stay a baby. You are boys, and boys become men.
You have one body. Not two, not three. You don’t get an extra one if you’re hurt beyond repair. You don’t get a “1-Up.” Some people say you have nine lives, like a cat, but that’s just an expression, even for cats. Point is, you have one body, so you must protect it. You must honor it, cherish it, maintain it.
Your body must be nourished with good, healthful food, and lots of water. Your body needs fresh oxygen and sunshine, your body needs regular exercise and plenty of rest. Your body needs mental and physical stimulation. Your body needs love and affection. Your body will need other forms of this that we will talk about later, when you’re ready—but for right now, think of your body as precious but strong, delicate but durable shell in which your very own spirit—your soul—resides. (We can talk about your soul later, too.)
What I want you to think about is how vital it is to create healthy rituals for your body. Many of these will develop naturally (going to the bathroom, eating, sleeping, etc.). It’s the nourishment and developmental aspects I want you to set for yourselves. It will ultimately be up to you to want to exercise and eat well, to hydrate and rest, to pace yourself, avoid toxic substances, and give yourself recovery.
Right now, you can eat just about anything. Corndog, donuts, fruit, chocolate milk, and your little bodies just burn it up. Later in life, that stuff sticks around inside of you. It’s like that time I showed you the rings of that chopped down tree. Each year, your body adds a new ring, and it’s up to you to decide the quality of that ring. It’s why I, your dad, try to limit that stuff I like—you know, beer.
Anyway, sons, your bodies are yours. You’ll spend your whole life getting to know them. Listen to your body. Get comfortable with it. Respect it. Protect it. Try to understand that every moment you’re inside of it, you’re living, breathing, and experiencing the gift you were given a long time ago.
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Photo by Elijah M. Henderson on Unsplash
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