Dear Body

Shachi Lavingia asked Arshad Ahmed, Mayur Saroj Rajput, Debasri Deb and Neelakshi to write a letter to their summer body.

We often wonder what the world would look like if only we were taught to be more compassionate towards ourselves and our bodies. While this wouldn’t benefit consumerism in the least, imagine the life we’d live if our days actually began with not attaching our worth to our bodies and looking into the mirror and being okay with what we see. Sadly, accepting our body takes effort today and here’s hoping we see a day when it doesn’t feel like work. To shine some light on this, Shachi Lavingia asked Arshad Ahmed, Mayur Saroj Rajput, Debasri Deb and Neelakshi to write a letter to their summer body and trust us, you’d be able to relate!

Check out what these letters have to say!

Arshad Ahmed

Dear self,

It’s been so long since I’ve had a chance to talk to you. In this fast-changing time, I’ve been juggling between relentless working schedules. However, please know that I haven’t forgotten the promise I made to you. As much as I am grateful to you, I owe you an apology as well. I vividly remember how careless I was with you. How much I ignored you, how each time I looked in the mirror, I blamed you for not fitting into the beauty standards of this society. Only concentrating on each flaw I could notice from the grown belly to the face fat. I craved others’ approval of myself. How I cut myself out. It’s not that I didn’t try to make an effort, but nothing seemed to be working. 

It took time to realize that I lacked discipline. It’s a myriad of things that work together to achieve something. The same is for achieving your desired goal. From eating right to religiously working out, from good sleep to being optimistic, everything works together. A lesson I learned late, but surely did. People don’t understand that when you focus on your flaws alone, you tell yourself that you don’t value yourself. Little did I know that my body is just a physical expression of my emotions. Taking care of you meant showing myself how much I love myself. Acceptance was my first step toward change, hard work being the second. Everything else simply followed. Today, when I look at those stretch marks, I see them as a badge of honor, a reward for my hard work and patience. A reward for beginning and continuing. It wasn’t easy, I must say. I have had to battle occasionally with my mind. I faced a hard time focusing on things that needed my attention. It’s not easy being positive all the time, you see. 

It took months to incorporate healthy habits and a year to reach where I am today. It took time to make small and big changes, but I forged ahead to see the change the world sees today. On days when I couldn’t be grateful for small changes, I made sure I revisited the pages to remind myself how wonderful I am to at least begin with something. I realized I am responsible for you, not for others’ approval, but for myself.

I am amazed at this new us. Now when I look at you in the mirror, I wish I can go back and tell my younger self to be patient and that I am more than what I think of myself. I wish I could tell others who look up to me, that before you start your journey of achieving your desired body, make sure you first change your mindset. Make sure you understand that every body type is different and so are the results. Everybody has their own pace and there is no magic potion or shortcut to achieve your goals. To conclude, all I can say is that I am grateful for everything. Alhamdulillah, I sternly believe that I am worthy of love and respect. And so are you. 

Forever keeping my promise to you!

Much Love,
Arshad Ahmed

Mayur Saroj Rajput

Dear body, 

First, let me say THANK YOU and I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!💜Our relationship has been a journey of love and hate. I used to feel frustrated and disgusted by my scars, rolls, aches, and pains. But now I accept and love you without judgment or negative self-talk. You are beautiful in any way you show up in this world. 

Lots of love and self-care, baby.

Neelakshi

Dear body,

I’m so sorry for trying to change you all these years. I’m sorry for all these years where I looked at you to mold  you, shape you, cut you, add on more to you, distort you in ways that I have imagined. I go to places that I shouldn’t. I’m sorry I looked at others wishing you were more like them. Sorry for looking at you like you could be changed. I’m sorry I didn't treat you right and the way you deserve. I’m thankful for all that you do for me. You let me be in it every single day. I’ve called you the most horrible names under the sun, taken you for granted, starved you, indulged you in the worst of toxicity, treated you worse than you ever really deserved. I can’t even finally say that I love you enough Because I’m learning to do that every single day, I’m learning to respect you, I’m trying to come to terms. I know what’s bad for you but I still haven’t reached there. But I hope you continue to have this patience with me, to not give up. I’m sorry for indulging in all those crash diets and medications out of my insecurity. I’m trying to understand how I can love you more, and be more mindful. I really can’t wait to see what the future holds for us now. holds for us.I hope i can do you better! 

Love,
Neelakshi

Debasri Deb

Dear body,

I HAVE HATED MY LEGS!

There, I said it. 

I have hated a part of you growing up. With every pair of jeans that didn't fit, with every cellulite that didn't vanish, with every jiggle that never stopped, my hatred just kept on mounting. But when I pull myself out of that situation, I make myself small and look from a bird's point of view, I see how much these wiggly, bouncy, cellulite-filled legs have done for me.

They helped me get up every time I fell down. They helped me walk up to my favorite park. They helped me cycle the roads of my colony, and explore new lanes and by-lanes. They helped me run while playing badminton. And they helped me live my life on my own terms. That perspective has helped me fall in love with you and to respect you.

Whenever I feel some harsh criticism creeping in, this perspective helps me pull myself out, and push myself into that world of gratitude.

Love,
Desbasri

This article was a part of Social Ketchup's 2023 April Edition.