I have made several attempts to write this post for the Cherished Blogfest. No matter where I started from, my thoughts always seemed to end up in the same place … I’m so grateful for this amazing piece of biological machinery I was gifted at birth.
I guess this preoccupation with my body is the result of the injury I incurred in June which has forced me into slow-mo. I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time in taking inventory – of memories both good and bad, the wouldofs-couldofs-shouldofs, and of course the things still left undone.
But an undeniable truth has emerged from all this navel-gazing. This package of skin, bones, organs, and “other stuff”, is truly remarkable in the magic of its function as we blithely go about our lives without giving it any thought – at least until something goes wrong.
… and then it tries to repair itself. Pure Magic.
I have dragged this body of mine through 60 years of often careless living. For all the good things I’ve done for my body, I’ve also exposed it to an equal amount of really bad things.
As a result, this body bears a road-map of scars, bruises, bumps, wrinkles, fat cells, and other imperfections that marks its journey through each of my sometimes misadventures, repairing itself as needed, getting stronger to meet the endless demands I’ve requested of it.
So although this current recovery stage has forced me into Spectator Mode on the proverbial sidelines of life, I’ve realized that this pervasive tired and achy feeling is just my body telling me it’s still healing. This is only temporary.
I cherish this body of mine. It is the most precious thing I have. It is beautiful in its function and absolutely priceless.
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This is the 2nd Annual Cherished Blogfest co-hosted by Dan Antion, Damyanti Biswas, Peter Nena, Cheryl Pennington, Kate Powell, and Mary J Melange.
This year it is being held the weekend of July 29-30-31 and everyone is encouraged to participate by sharing something they cherish in whatever medium(s) they choose – with writing or poetry (limited to 500 words), photography, art medium, etc.
For additional Cherished Blogfest posts, click HERE.
My Life Lived Full 
Ok, awesome choice! The vast majority of us search externally for our valued articles, however why disregard our bodies? We wouldn’t have the capacity to welcome our other valued items without it. Great post!
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Thank you for the lovely comment. I’m usually body obsessive in a different kind of way – ie whining about all its imperfections – but nothing like an injury to give me a reality check 🙂
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Indeed! We all need to cherish the temple we call body. Thanks for such a great reminder. So glad you joined the CBF. I am amazed at the many different cherished objects we have had in this year’s collection. Cheryl, cohost.
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I agree! Reading all the wonderful stories has been so interesting. This is a great annual event 🙂
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I look forward to more great posts from you.
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Great choice. We really don’t realise what a gift a fully functional body is until it’s only semi-functioning. Hope the mechanic gets yours back up and running (or cycling) very soon.
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I think I’m coming to the end of this episode of being injured. I’m very grateful for the increasing strength and mobility in my shoulder 🙂
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You have a lovely way of interacting with your world! 🙂
Kindness – Robert.
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Thank you for the kind words 🙂
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Most welcome, Joanne! 🙂
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Great post and wonderful photos, Joanne. Not only does our body repair itself, but it is this amazing universe of perfectly integrated functions – billions of things happening in sync with each other constantly, covered with helpful icky symbiotic microbes and living within and as part of a perfect planet. We are rather blithe about this miracle, aren’t we 🙂
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So true – our bodies are little self-contained universes!
It’s interesting how we think of the birth of a child as a miracle, but don’t give a second thought to the ongoing miracle of our lives each and every day.
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The fact that we can pop human beings out of us is kind of a miracle too. Ha ha 🙂 The whole thing about life is rather amazing!
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I love the creativity of this post. If only we groaned less about our bodies and wondered more about their mysteries.
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You’re so right. I admit I’m one who groans a lot … but instead should be so grateful 🙂
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Love the irrelevant photos. The body is truly an amazing thing. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you 🙂
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So many of us take our bodies for granted until something starts to go wrong. As I have aged I realize how much I have disregarded it until it comes back to haunt me. You are right, take care of this fragile thing we dwell in.
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Thank you. The past couple of months have been rather trying. Thankfully, this is an injury that will heal in the fullness of time and it’s not something more serious … but it has given me a wake-up call.
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Beautiful! Thank you for reminding me to be grateful for my cherished body too.
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You’re welcome. I needed to remind myself that *perfection* comes in many forms 🙂
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Ah, great selection! Most of us look outward for our cherished objects, but why neglect our bodies? We wouldn’t be able to appreciate our other cherished objects without it. Good post!
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Thank you. I appreciate the thumbs up 🙂
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Joanne what an eloquent and beautiful post. Currently I find myself in a bit of ‘you’re so out of shape’ thinking and your words are a needed kick in the pants. This body has endured a great deal like yours and I should be so happy to have it, even the saggy, baggy bits and bobbles.
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You? With saggy, baggy bits? After a 4 day bike ride in the mountains only a month ago? Out of shape?
Good God!! I don’t want to know where I sit on that scale!!
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Joanne one day we will sit down over a glass or two of wine and chat more about this. Body image has been a life long challenge. As to the fitness thing I reflect back on when I ran the marathon and now can barely squeak out 5km or when I used to rock climb overhanging cliffs and now strain at scrambles. Your post was very good for me in shaking me up a bit and realizing that I may not be in that kind of shape but for a 55 year old I am so fortunate to do what I do. A long winded thank you for a kick in the butt. 🙂
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Thanks my friend. It’s been a kick in the butt for me too. We tend to be really hard on ourselves. Kindness to ourselves seems to be hard to do.
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Yes something we can both work on apparently. 🙂
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So true! Being menopausal had me made come back into this bag o’ bones and hair like never before! A wise woman said to me a couple of years ago “Without your body, you are a no body!” Best wishes for a good recovery. A speedy recovery would be great, I am sure, but the body does what it needs to do at it’s own pace!
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Oh yes – it certainly does! If I had my way, I’d be fully healed by now!! Oh well.
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Joanne an unusual choice, and I loved it. The irrelevant images supported the posting in a beautiful way. I’ve had back issues due to dancing injuries in my teens. I SO appreciate my body when it is not in pain, and also learned to live with a great deal of it. Our bodies shoudl be cherished and this is an excellent reminder. Thank you for participating — one of the CBF co-hosts. Following you! Kate
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When one body part doesn’t play nice, it seems like the entire body hurts in sympathy. The back is definitely one of the worst. I’m so grateful I don’t have back issues – you have my sympathy!
I cherish the days when everything is working seamlessly.
Thank you for the visit 🙂
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I wasn’t able to cherish or love myself when I was younger. I was overly critical with both, my inside and my outside. My behind was too small, the top too large. I wanted to be smaller and thinner. I dragged my body through the mud, ate and drunk what I wanted, didn’t think about it twice; didn’t think about the bill twice.
I took risks I shouldn’t have taken, jeopardized my wellbeing and smiled while doing so.
I will never be the “careful” type, but I make better choices now.
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When it comes to personal angst, being young is really rough. As I get older, it is so much easier to live in my own imperfect skin.
I agree that I too will never be the careful type … and I still make less than good choices 😉
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Quite an unusual choice for Cherished blogfest, but the best part about this festival is that we get to see different perspectives. I agree that we need to take care of our body. It is the only means through which we can achieve our dreams, do good for others and move on. I usually push my body to some extent, but I also make sure that I take some time out and relax because at the end of the day it is my body that keeps me going. As a co-host I thank you for sharing your story in the Cherished Blogfest.
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Thank you.
This is not where I started, but it’s where I ended up. It seems that this is the story I needed to tell.
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I believe you’ve picked up the right story. We all need to take care of our body before it decides to take care of our future.
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We take these vessels so for granted until they falter, then we realize how vital it is to take care of them, respect them and cherish them. I enjoyed reading about your awareness and hope you continue to grow to health.
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Good gosh, Joanne–I read about your biking. Ouch. I broke my collarbone when I was 13 year old. Bike injury. My oldest son did the same. Same age, too. Our bodies are miraculous, for sure. Very positive post.
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Interesting that both you and your son broke your collarbones at the same age! I bet you could really relate to what he was going through!
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I could! And to what you are going through. So not fun, Joanne!
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sigh.
I agree.
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Here, here! So true; our health and the things our bodies allow us to do are so easy to take for granted. It’s only when they start to fade that we realize how precious they are.
Loved the irrelevant photos too 😀
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I guess, Norm, this would ring true for you in a big way. Let’s hope we enjoy good health for a long time!!
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What a great post, Joanne! Our bodies are truly an amazing thing to cherish. I just finished walking eight-days of the Camino Trail in France and Spain — with an incredible amount of tough uphill and steep downhill! Like you, I began to thank my body aloud. This trek also was a great reminder that if one aspect of my body wasn’t working (even a baby toe), then everything else was ‘off’. Thanks for a great reflection — and spectacular photography!
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Although I haven’t done the Camino, I’m quite familiar with it. It’s a significant undertaking! Congratulations.
You’re so right though … if one body part isn’t happy, it throws everything else off. As I’m recovering from a broken collarbone, I’m reminded of this reality on a regular basis throughout the day
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Walking and talking . . . miracles!
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Exactly 🙂
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Thanks for this reminder to appreciate, care for and cherish our bodies through all its many stages. It really is a miraculous machine!!
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I admit that the more I learn about the intricacies of our biology, the more amazed and impressed I am. The description “divine engineering” comes to mind 🙂
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Oops, hope you can tell I meant to be coherent, silly me. Should have proofread better!
“.Y” should be “my”
“lost” should be “list,”
and repetitive joint pain is the last mess I made! 🙂 . . . Did I mention my eyes are a little bit messed up? 🙂 Cataract surgery in October.
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Joanne, I also feel blessed to have most of .Y body in working order. Those now defective parts will get repaired as time goes by. Cataract surgery, seems redundant after two eyes having laser surgery for narrow eye glaucoma. The dot or spot dystrophy is weird, but all to say, that and repetjoint pain seem insignificant compared to what Stephen Hawking’s or Michael J. Fox face daily. I lost two famous people who are known for their challenges, despite millions who face theirs courageously alone.
Yes, to our bodies! Celebrate what we have. 🙂 Joanne, by the way, those art sculptures are not irrelevant! They are pertinent and so beautifully illustrated your post.
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It’s interesting you should mention cataract surgery. I just had lens replacement in both eyes this past spring – one of the many distractions in my life this year. Although I didn’t have cataracts – yet – I had the surgery to enable my prescription to be embedded in my eyes. I had some wonky issues with my eyes that made this a good long term solution. I was VERY nervous, but I’m happy with the results. Although it’s been 6 weeks since my 2nd eye was done, I still have a tendency to reach for my glasses in the morning when I wake up!
I agree that our creaky, aging bodies are a minor issue compared to what many have to endure and overcome on a daily basis. The older I get, the more I seem to appreciate my good health. I hope it continues for a very long time!
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[…] via Cherished Blogfest: This Body Beautiful — My Life Lived Full […]
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Thank you for this thought provoking post, words and photos. We all take our miraculous bodies for granted when we are well. Hope your recovery is going well.
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Thanks Ruth 🙂
We’ve all been blessed with an amazing gift and I’m even more appreciative of it as it’s trying to repair itself.
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I know…we take our bodies for granted, until one day…
But get this, once I needed surgery in my knee, a meniscus tear, no way to fix it but surgery. When they told me the possible problems, it scared me so bad, I healed that tear…a miracle, the doctor’s said. Perhaps, but perhaps just the body telling us something about ourselves we didn’t know? Love the photos here.
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Thanks Badfish.
It’s ironic that as we get older and our bodies become less “perfect”, we seem to appreciate what it can do even more.
I’m not familiar with the issues associated with a meniscus tear, except that it’s painful! Hope the knee is 100% again. It’s amazing how adaptive the body can be!
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Meniscus…yeah, painful and unrepairable!! That’s why it’s such a miracle…
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Wonderful post! I’m fully on board with how amazing our bodies are. A recent (as in this Thursday) injury that will take me out of commission for awhile – and necessitated me missing out on the Cherished Blogfest – and force me into slo-mo for at least a month. Here’s to self-healing… let it begin!
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Nooo! Not you too! What on earth did you do??
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If I get home today or tomorrow, I’ll try to get that Cherished Blogfest post in. I had two ideas for it last week, on Wednesday morning, it changed completely. I guess what doesn’t kill you makes a good blog post!
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A good article, Joanne. I should tape it all over my house so I can be constantly reminded about what you said. Thanks.
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Thanks Helen. I think I need reminding occasionally too … especially when I’m about to reach for another piece of chocolate 😉
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I’ve never thought about my body in this way, but you are certainly right. When I was younger I tended to ignore my body more than cherish it, but now as I’m getting older I appreciate it more. Fascinating that you thought of this when forced to not use your body.
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I know. The irony is not lost of me
It proves the line from the Joni Mitchell song ‘you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone’.
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Indeed! So true.
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Lovely post – so good to focus on the positive side of all our lives…like getting to our 60’s pretty well still intact! Oh those aches come a little more often and stay a little longer but it means we’re still trying. Hope that healing is moving right along😊
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So true, Carol. Do you ever look back on some of your adventures and breathe a silent prayer of thanks that you made it out alive?! Making it to 60 intact is pretty much a major achievement!
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Good one! It is interesting how we mature and enjoy a day with no pain and it really is appreciated. 🙂 My husband chuckles with the old adage: if I’d known I was going to living this long I would have taken better care of myself. 🙂
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haha! I love that saying too!
… but I also like the idea of ‘leaving nothing on the table’ and taking full advantage of what I’ve got 😉
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I think you made a great choice Joanne. Between the time that you wrote this and now, your body has healed a little bit. Pretty soon, you’ll be back behind the handlebars. It’s pretty interesting to chart all the phases we go through with respect to how we think about and care for our bodies. I guess it’s natural to start paying a little closer attention after we hit 60.
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So true, Dan. I think I might be becoming the worst hypochondriac ever. I think I’m dying at least once a day
Seriously, it’s funny how we reach this stage of our lives wishing we had taken better care of ourselves.
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My goodness Joanne that was beautiful. The photos and your words… just beautiful. This is my favourite post that you’ve written. It brought tears to my eyes. Our bodies are our greatest treasure.
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Wow, Annie. Your comment has brought tears to my eyes! Aren’t we a pair?!
For those of us who use our bodies and often push it beyond what we think it is capable of, our bodies truly are a magnificent work of art ❤
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Well done! I understand how useful our bodies are. I deeply appreciate my broken and flawed body for all the things it can still do. 😀
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Exactly!! Mine is far from perfect … but omg, I truly appreciate what I can do with it 🙂
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Wow, what a beautifully original take on a “cherished object”, Joanne. The body is something that is often underappreciated but really, where would we be without it!
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Thank you Wendy. This is one of those rare posts that seemed to write itself 🙂
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Well written. You know there is a lot of fuss about bodies and perfection. But I’m with you; it’s great to be alive and well and have a body and be on this Earth. Glad you’re recovering well.
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Thanks Mick. There are likely very few people on this earth with a “perfect” body. I know mine’s not … but it is truly remarkable what I can do with this one – flaws and all 😉
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Yes, I don’t quite challenge body like you do yours. Italy will test it for sure. Btw but apologies; I spotted a painting of Toronto and messaged to you on fb. My fb name is May ABiscuit. Can’t put kit back to me because Ive forgotten the associated password😯
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I never received a message on FB. Perhaps the wrong Joanne Sisco?
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No definitely you. Who knows? I’ll see if I can share it another way
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Very poignant, and very well-written. Thank you!
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Sigh… I just wish my body could return to its premenopausal status. It wasn’t in great shape then, but at least it had a shape….
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If I wasn’t so distressed by my own lumpy body, I’d find that funny
Aging is really cruel.
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I love it. Your words are like butter and the photos are gorgeous. I’m trying to be more mindful of my body these days – I’m not as young as I act! Thanks for such a poetic reminder 😀
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“Words like butter” … wow, that’s a nice compliment and very much appreciated! 🙂
I don’t particularly want to start acting my age, but I do acknowledge I have to start being a wee bit less reckless. I’m not bouncing back quite as easily as I once did.
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I agree. A body (in good health) is invaluable. I hope your healing is coming along well. Who knows, maybe very soon you’ll be able to risk your neck on a bike again.
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Thanks Tippy. I sure hope so!
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I’m sure your body is mending, in the meantime, thanks for sharing the irrelevant pictures. I’ve been to Frogner Park a couple of times and it stirred up some pleasant memories.
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Glad you enjoyed the photos. I was very impressed with Frogner Park!
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I love this Joanne! Our bodies truly are miracles, even though we abuse them and tend to not always appreciate how they work. I’m glad to see you are taking it easy and allowing yourself to heal. You have only one body to cherish! 🙂
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So very true. Because if I could, I would have traded it in for a newer, sleeker model a LONG time ago 😉
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Beautiful post and I love the sculptures that you included. We should all appreciate, value our precious bodies. It is where we live.
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I love that you chose your body as the thing you cherish Joanne. We push our bodies every single day, often not taking the time to give it the rest it deserves. There have been numerous occasions, usually when I am on my bike, when I will literally thank my body out loud for allowing me to do the things I do. Anyone within ear shot most likely would think I have a screw loose if they heard me thanking my legs for pushing & my heart for pumping but like you, I do not take this for granted. Continued success in your healing my friend💛
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It’s so true, Lynn. It seems that only when I’m really pushing my body hard do I realize what a wonder it is that I can do what I do.
… and times like now
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Love your irrelevant pictures!
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Thanks 🙂
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It’s definitely pretty miraculous…and may you experience the miracle of healing…and quickly!!
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Thanks Marissa. I hope your’s keeps functioning flawlessly for a very long time 🙂
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me too! Thank you!
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