When Was the Last Time You Thanked Your Body?

When was the last time you truly thanked your body? Have you ever stopped to appreciate all it does for you, even when it feels like it’s betraying you with aches or signs of aging?

The other day, as I played a song on the piano I wrote seven years ago, a thought flashed through my mind: “Your ovaries are getting older.” Surprisingly, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Moved to tears, I had to lay down on my living room floor and thank my body. In the same reverent manner of praying to an all-powerful Heavenly Father, I prayed. Starting with my toes, I cried “thank you” to each part of my body. When I reached my reproductive area, I paused. I grieved for all the eggs I’d lost over the years—those potential lives, gone.

As I played the song, I realized how much my body had carried me through since I first composed it—moments of love, loss, healing, and growth. My fingers weren’t just playing notes but tracing years of stories written into my being. The melody itself hadn't changed, but I had. My body had. It has been with me every step of the way, carrying me forward.

Here is that song, freshly recorded:

imenkomi · these new memories with your ghost

Acknowledging the Body

Our bodies are an incredible mystery. We only know a small fraction of their complexities. Yet, we rely on them every day without thinking twice. What if we paused to thank them? What if, in those quiet moments, we recognized everything they’ve done for us amidst the scars, imperfections, and aches?

Recognizing all the trauma we’ve inflicted on our bodies—from junk food to drugs, from abortions to unloving sex, from self-criticism to self-hatred—what if we paused in awe of their ability to heal? Think about it: whether you love yourself or not, your body loves you. Unconditionally. It works tirelessly to help you heal, to keep you moving forward. How are we not constantly humbled by our body’s ability to heal us, even when we treat it in a way we wouldn’t prefer?

For me, this includes the two miscarriages I’ve had. These experiences brought their own kind of grief, guilt, and anger. Perhaps some of you can relate, or maybe you’re struggling to process them. But through it all, my body kept going. It healed. It felt love, joy, and pleasure over and over again—more than ever before.

At first, I didn’t recognize my body’s healing. The grief felt endless, and I wondered if I had damaged something irreparably. But my body didn’t hold onto remorse or disillusionment the way my mind did. It simply did what it always does—heal, adapt, and continue loving me, whether I loved it back or not.

We often forget that we are our bodies. Beneath the surface, there’s a mysterious ability to heal, and that ability is fueled by unconditional love. It’s always there, even when you don’t feel it. One way to reconnect with this truth is through a simple exercise: Imagine yourself as a child. Do you feel love for that child? That child is your unconditional love for yourself, carried by your body, healing you through every hardship.

Love and Loss

Love and loss go hand in hand. The deeper we love something, the more vulnerable we are to losing it. I’ve felt this with my cat. Growing up, my immigrant parents didn’t treat animals like pets the way many do. Animals came and went, and I learned not to get too attached. But something changed when I got the cat that I have now.

I was not expecting to form a deep bond with any animal yet this cat and I, we became inseparable. Now, in my small apartment, she’s my best friend. Sometimes, when I look into her eyes, I ache at the thought of her one day leaving. I imagine holding her as she peacefully passes and wonder how I’ll handle the loss, just as I wonder how I’ll handle my own aging body.

Just as I fear the eventual loss of my cat, I sometimes fear losing the body I know now—its youth, its strength, its potential. But just like my body, love persists. In loss, love does not disappear. It is transformed. And Love, it transforms.

A Moment of Reflection

We don’t often realize the fragility of life until something shakes us awake, reminding us that everything we love—including our bodies—is temporary. But in these moments, we have an opportunity to pause and say, “Thank you.” What if we replaced all those “Sorry’s” with “Thank you”?

What if today you took a moment to thank your body—from your toes to your head? Maybe you’ll lie down and say “thank you” for the functionality, the survival, the healing. Maybe you’ll start with remorse or anger and then work your way towards gratitude. Maybe you’ll be stuck on one emotion. All those emotions are okay because your body innately knows how to get unstuck—unless there is something beyond your control that seems determined to be stuck. In which case, please seek help, even if it is through here.

The Beauty of Impermanence

Love, loss, and gratitude coexist. Loving deeply means accepting loss. In that acceptance, we find peace.

Did you know that hippos sleep underwater most of the day even though they cannot breathe underwater? Their bodies reflexively come up for air every five minutes, all while asleep. 

Our bodies, loved ones, and pets are here for a moment. Let that sink in. Allow yourself to be overwhelmed with sadness and concern. Then trust that, like a sleeping hippo rising from the water for air, your body will come up for breath.

Bodies never lie. They hold all the wisdom you’ll ever need. You were birthed into this world with all that wisdom locked away inside your body. Let it guide you through the process of coexisting with love and grief, anxiety and peace, remorse and gratitude, blissful joy and boredom.

A Call to Reflect

So I ask you again: When was the last time you thanked your body? When did you stop to honor its resilience and all it’s carried you through? When were you floored by your buried unconditional self-love and humbled by your own healing wisdom?

Take a moment today. Maybe you’ll lie down and say “thank you,” or hold a loved one a little longer – realizing that this moment is all you have and sitting with the flood of feelings that come with that knowledge.

I’d love to hear from you. Share in the comments below, and let’s honor our journeys together.

• What are you thankful for in your body?
• Do you have a favorite part of your body?
• What experiences have shaped your relationship with your body?