I hate shorts. You can ask my hiking friends about this and they will verify it’s true. They always tease me for wearing long leggings, even in the middle of summer when it’s over 100 degrees when we hike. I correct them by telling them that I am actually wearing capri leggings when it’s hot. Capris are like shorts to me.
I’ve always had muscular legs. After the 5th grade I never had skinny legs. Even after losing my desired weight and inches all around, I still am self conscious in shorts. My legs really are changing for the first time, with the help of portion control, nutrition and exercise videos, but let’s face it…we all have areas of our bodies that are not our favorite.
I read a book that challenged me to do something really difficult. This is how it goes. Identify one area of your body that you don’t like (isn’t your favorite). Stand in front of a mirror; focus on that area, and think of the ways that area is beneficial to your life. Focus on the positive instead of listening to the negative tapes that play in your head about that part of your body. Easier said than done, right?
Well, today I didn’t even need to look in the mirror to know why I’m thankful for my strong legs. It was 92 degrees today in Northern California. I was wearing my capris, hiking up a very steep hill on one of my favorite hikes with a friend. I am thankful that I have strong and able legs to carry me up that hill time and time again. In fact, on our most frequented hike, my hiking girls have named the steepest part, “Amethyst’s Hill.” So, I’m thankful for my legs, even if the are not Barbie or model-like in appearance.
As we approached the peak of our hike, I noted how much wildlife was around today. Butterflies, lizards, grasshoppers…when I heard a “RATTLE”!!!! Do you know what my strong legs did for me? They JUMPED up in the air several feet and took me running away from the sound. It was instinctual. I don’t even think I processed what was happening. When I looked back, there was a huge rattlesnake, right where I was about to have stepped when I heard the rattling noise. My friend was on one side of the snake and I on the other. Neither of us was willing to pass the snake and we were kind of freaking out! I’ve never seen a rattlesnake in all my years of hiking. Fortunately this rattlesnake used its rattle to do what it was made for…to warn me! After I got out of the way, it slithered into the brush, politely leaving us alone. Let’s just say, we didn’t quite make the peak of the hike. Every time a lizard ran by or a butterfly fluttered by our nose I jumped in panic!
So, all that is to say, I came home, showered and put on some shorts. It was hot. My legs saved me, they allow me to do what I love, and they deserved to see the sunlight today.
So, I challenge you to identify your least favorite body part and really think about what is GOOD about it. Yes, if we are not healthy and we need to lose weigh or be more active, we can change some things about our body with health and fitness. But, some things aren’t going to change all that much. I often have said that I would love to “screw off” my legs and “screw on” a better pair. But what does that reveal in me? I don’t want to be dissatisfied with what God has given me. I want to look for the good in all things. So, who knows, I might have to actually wear shorts for the first time this summer with my hiking friends.
