Day Twelve: Self image. Homeless men. Living in your heart.

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Writing Challenge Day 12
I'm doing a 31 day writing challenge, found on the Reverb website, designed to reflect on the past year and look forward to what's to come in 2011.


Body Integration. This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present?

 I don't really like this prompt. Or understand it. But I think my answer to the time I felt most alive this year would also apply to this prompt, so, instead, here are my random thoughts:

Thought #1: What does body integration mean? When I think of the phrase "body integration," I think of

having a
mind, ph
ysical bo
dy, and s
pirit that
are comp
letely ali
gned......

You know what else I think about a lot? How it's so weird that we come into this life and receive these bodies that seem almost completely random.

We can't pick our
(natural) hair color,
skin tone,
height,
eye color
metabolism,
genetic makeup...

but we DO have control over our mental and emotional states. We're just expected to have this thing (body) that we receive completely mesh with how our brain works and who we are inside our bodies. I think there's often a disconnect between how we look and how we WANT to look or WANT to be perceived. The disconnect can cause a lot of pain, frustration, and anger. Let's be honest... people judge based on our bodies. Physical appearances. As shallow as it may be, it's true.

Thought #2: Pros and cons of our bodies. I think human bodies are fascinating. I mean, we breathe and blink without even thinking. How cool is that? Our bodies allow us to run, jump, dance, paint, hug, travel... Our bodies can heal and take care of themselves in incredible ways.
But there are so many things that can go wrong.

Ugly diseases.
Cancer.
Sicknesses.
Broken bones.
Accidents.
The entire aging process.

We are judged on our bodies, whether we like it or not. Our intelligence and kindness is not something that is tangible and visible to the people around us. As we get older, our bodies start to deteriorate, and our minds continue to grow. This doesn't make sense. Shouldn't our bodies and minds grow in conjunction with one another? The dilemma of an aging body and a sharper-than-ever mind leaves one trapped in a body that physically is no longer a reliable, capable, or compatible match for the brilliant mind held hostage inside. That's terrifying.

Thought #3: Disconnect continued / Ted Williams

I read a story online the other day (and you've probably heard this) about a homeless man named Ted Williams claiming he has a "golden voice" and wanting to find a job in radio or voiceovers. Here is a short interview with him.
Like I said, the disconnect between our minds and bodies I think has a lot to do with how others perceive us, not how we see ourselves. If you looked at this man, and judged solely on his appearance, you would not expect his voice to sound like it does in that interview; the man, however, knows that's what his voice sounds like and has no trouble believing in that.
We allow the disconnect into our lives through the input of others. We welcome it, really. We ask people for opinions, advice, feedback, criticisms...and even if we don't ask, they come.
"You could never be a basketball player. You're not tall enough."
"You think you're going to be a TV star with that face?"
"Girls can't be engineers. Pick something else."
"He would never date you. He's way more attractive."

Thought #4: What we control
So height. Gender. Appearance. These are all things we can't control. Determination, passion, confidence.... those things a product of our mind and our spirit. Don't ALLOW the disconnect between your mind and your body. If you make up your mind about something, build a wall to protect against the negativity of others. Make it a strong wall... because those comments will find any way possible to seep through, crawl under your skin, make their way to your bloodstream, make a home in the back of your mind... and then it's almost impossible to get them out of your head.

Thought #5: 
If you're happy with what's inside, that shows on the outside. A simple concept. Work on your internal happiness before obsessing with the things you can't control.
"I live in my heart. So it really doesn't matter where my body lives. If I am happy inside, then I live in paradise, no matter where my residence is."

Oh, by the way. Ted got a job. Here's his first commercial voiceover.
(: