Dear Body,

I know I sometimes complain about your certain pieces and parts, but I really am impressed with your abilities and with what you've become over the years.

Thank you for carrying and nourishing my two baby boys for 40 weeks, for thrusting them into the world, for bouncing back after their ten-pound-plus deliveries. Thank you for sending me a symptom so I could catch breast cancer at an early stage. Thank you for tolerating surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and then more drug therapy and for keeping cancer from recurring for the past almost four years. Thank you for responding to my healthy eating and exercise efforts, for dropping 15 pounds and giving me the strength to conquer all sorts of physical feats. Thank you for allowing me to sleep well at night, to manage stress effectively on most occasions, and for looking, well, pretty OK.

If I had to pick a favorite part, it would be my calves. I like the shape, the muscle, the tone, which I'm sure comes from running so many miles. Next, I'd pick my tummy. Now, I know I didn't come by this part naturally but I understand now there was little you could do on your own to minimize that left-over pregnancy skin. Sometimes we all need a little help, and my tummy tuck makes me like you so much more. Finally, I like my toes (John told me long before we were married that I have cute toes), and I'm really learning to like my arms as they tighten up, thanks to my recent strength training.

I admire you, body, and I am thankful for you -- despite my sometimes frustrations and sometimes suffering body image. Simply stated: You rock.

Cheers to you, my friend.

Jacki Donaldson

Thank you, Maggie, for the inspiration to write this.

• Fresh, locally grown veggies -- Fresh vegetables are key for a well-balanced diet. Get them local -- grow them in your back yard, even -- and ditch all pesticides too. Your body will thank you.
  
  

• May flowers -- Are there health benefits to flowers? You betcha. Flowers offer restoration and respite from mental stress. And they help us connect with the natural world. Want more? Visit this post.
  
  

• A dog's little wagging tail -- Dogs are feel-good pets who love us unconditionally. They can also help curb kids' allergies and can even assist on your next fitness hike.
  
  

• Picking up the mail and finding an old-fashioned letter -- Time to turn off your computer and get back to basics -- like reading a real letter, written on real paper. If one doesn't turn up in your mailbox, find an old note you've saved. Or better yet, write one and mail it to a loved you. You'll boost your recipient's spirits and your own too -- journaling and writing have definite soothing qualities.
  
  

• Iced coffee -- Nowadays, coffee is more health food than hazard food. It contains antioxidants and the power to rev your metabolism too.
  
  

What healthy habits make you happy?

We've all done it -- promised ourselves this time it was gonna be different, that this time we were going to stick with it through to the end, NO MATTER WHAT. And then later, maybe even just a few days later, our resolve dissolved and we forgot all about that powerful conviction we had and started making excuses and finding reasons to go back to our old ways before we ever even really got started.

So enough of that, right? Writing down your plan can help, although if writing out a contract for yourself doesn't work what about writing a "Dear John" letter to your bad habits? Read this example, and write one in your own words. Then every time you feel weak just read it over and you'll feel refreshed and re-motivated!

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