I got sick last week. Really felt like I had Covid. Just got the test results back and they were negative. “Whew”, I thought. I still have some virus, no doubt about that. In the medical and scientific realm, I have had some sort of flu bug for sure. For me, though, as a body-centered psychotherapist, I must look at my whole being and the messages it is sending to me.
A dear client, who has learned well and taught me well asked me, “What is your body saying to you?” I laughed out loud. We teach what we continue to learn.
I told him that I clearly heard: “I ache. I am sick. I have no appetite and what I do take in immediately purges. I am dizzy. I am in pain. I am bone tired.”
Then I asked my body, “What do you ache for? What is sick? What are you purging? Where is your exhaustion and pain coming from?”
The first messages I got had to do with the state of the world. I ache and long for a peaceful and kinder world. I am sick over the craziness. I am purging all the toxic news and insensitivities. I am beyond tired of the suffering and contentiousness.
Then another wise client mentioned that she knew this was the first anniversary of my soul/sister, Joy’s passing. I ache and long to be with her. I am sick with grief. I have no appetite for fun. My body releases nourishment as quickly as I nourish it, almost to imitate the emptiness I feel without her nourishing presence. I am in such pain that I will never talk to her in person again, trade sessions, giggle together, learn and grow together, share meals and recipes. I am still dizzy and disoriented living life without her. And Joy would always say, “I am bone tired.” She was a southern girl. So, there it is. The body never lies.
And for the last two weeks I have had an eye infection. It hurt to see, to look. My eye was swollen and my cheek black and blue, beat up. There is so much I don’t want to look at these days. Still, I know I must. Still, I must embrace my very own hero’s journey, which includes Life in its entirety. All of it.
Once I took off the blinders, I could relate to my body more compassionately. As I would a best friend who was struggling. As I would do with Joy. And afterward, after acknowledging all the layers of my pain, I began to mend. I am beginning to feel better. I am feeling the energy slowly fill, just in the seeing, and the recognition of all the grief.
Thank you, Body. I love you.
Enjoy this short video about our best friend, whom we truly cannot live without.
Beautiful.
We must all learn from you and listen to what our bodies are telling us.
Yes. We must. Thank you Kathryn!
Thank you Kathryn. We must all understand that our body is our friend.
Lots of sleep, virtual doc visits, test again in a few days, you are loved Ruthie, we need you, you and your loved ones are still connected.
Dr Gabor Mate has some very interesting research on the way we live & how it manifests in our bodies. & about how ignoring our emotions manifest as illness.
https://youtu.be/c6IL8WVyMMs