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The Gifts of an ‘Imperfect’ Body I have a perfect body. Just as it is, right now. It certainly isn’t perfect by our contemporary society’s standards of physical perfection. You most likely won’t see me in any underwear ads any time soon. But I do have a perfect body by the only standard that really matters - my own soul. As I was growing up I was extremely skinny and it was a source of considerable embarrassment for me. I was teased and made fun of throughout most of my school days. My mother took me to several doctors to try find out why, no matter what I did, I just couldn’t seem to gain weight. I was subjected to a wide variety of tests, shots and curious diets. My favorite was the popcorn and beer diet. When I was around 14 years old, one doctor told my mother to give me a big bowl of popcorn and a cold beer every night before bed. The theory was that it would stretch my stomach and make me hungrier during the day, therefore I would eat more during regular meals and consequently gain weight. I never gained a single pound but I did go to bed happy every night for a few months. Hopefully the beer and popcorn prescription is no longer given out as it could have led to other serious concerns, which thankfully didn’t occur with me. I didn’t start to gain any significant weight until I hit my mid-thirties. Our bodies, I believe, sometimes gets less than a fair shake in today’s spirituality mindset. How many times have you heard, “We are not the body” or “We are not physical beings, we are spiritual beings having a physical experience”? Now, don’t get me wrong. I completely agree with both statements. We are not the body, but the body is a part of us. I believe the bodies we have were lovingly crafted and designed specifically for our soul’s journey and optimal growth. If we have challenges, difficulties or judgments on our bodies I believe there is a wonderful lesson, a gift just waiting to be opened there. Something, that once realized, will change our perception from one of self-judgment to one of gratitude for these sacred vessels we move around in. I know for me, my challenges with my weight had afforded me wonderful lessons. I can remember many times as a young man while coming across my image unexpectedly in a mirror, say while walking through a department store, and being surprised at my own very thin image. See, I didn’t feel skinny on the inside. My heart didn’t feel skinny, my mind didn’t feel skinny, nothing in my inner experience felt skinny. So it was always a bit of a shock if I hadn’t been thinking about my body and came upon my reflection suddenly. From this I learned empathy and compassion for people with less than ‘perfect’ bodies. Knowing that my soul felt full inside this skinny frame I was cognizant of the full soul in people with every and any physical challenge. I would frequently send people a silent prayer of love and support whenever I noticed anyone in public who seemed to be self-conscious of their body. So if you have any judgments on any parts of your body sit in meditation and ask those parts, “What gift do you have for me?” If you listen with a loving heart you just may be surprised at the answer. I love my body and I am grateful for the gifts, lessons and journey it has lovingly afforded me all these years. Maybe what we need are a different type of underwear ad. Ads with people in it who love their bodies, just as they are. Who knows, Calvin Klein may call me yet. Enjoy life's sacred journey.