A Beautiful Work In Progress

by Mirna Valerio

Nobody ever achieved anything epic without doing the requisite work, even if the work itself is humdrum, boring, run-of-the-mill kind of work. Getting your weekly miles in, doing cross-training to strengthen your muscles and lessen the likelihood of overuse injuries, (for some) having a stretching/yoga regimen, eating to fuel (and enjoy life), and taking rest and recovery seriously (I admit that I haven’t always done this) are all part of getting the work done.

When you can see the power that you have—the physical and mental prowess you were likely born with, but your belief in it has been squashed due to various life events and others’ perceptions of you—and then you realize that you had it in you the whole time and you just had to coax it out at the right minute in the right situation, you start to believe that you can do anything. And this power is heady. It’s dangerous even, especially to folks who had ever told you or hinted that you couldn’t do something, that you wouldn’t be able to achieve something. Acknowledging and welcoming your self-worth, your own extraordinary power, is incredible. You become unstoppable.

Your body, whatever its size, whatever its hair color and hairstyle, however its height, whatever its age, is acceptable. Your body is acceptable just the way you are. No matter your age, if you’re in your forties like me, or ten, fourteen, thirty, or even sixty, your body is a beautiful work in progress.

“The body positivity movement strives to create representation for marginalized bodies.” What exactly is a marginalized body? It’s a body that doesn’t conform to, heed to, or acquiesce to socially accepted body criteria and therefore exists outside of the norm, on the margins of what is deemed acceptable.

This body is fierce, beautiful, and unapologetic. It’s meant to move through the world as it wishes: lifting, walking, and running, rolls and all. Love handles, bouncy boobs, curves, tummy, butt, back fat, and all. I honor her by continuing to move along the spectrum of health and wellness, and in turn she honors me by living vibrantly.