As I hiked through icy mountain trails on a sunny winter day, I found myself—once again—reflecting on my body.
In the forest, I’m reminded that I am part of nature. I see my body as a wondrous emergence from the primordial soup, evolving with perfect harmony. Lungs that breathe, a heart that beats, skin that protects —brilliance worthy of nothing less than awe and devotion!
And yet, being in a body is also incredibly mundane. As I hike I become tired and thirsty. I have a backpack full of water and snacks and warmer clothing… so many things needed to care for this soft and vulnerable life form. There is so much endless tending!
I sit on a rock to rest.
I believe my body is wise. I trust her signals and turn to her for guidance. And she can also be so fickle! Prone to constantly changing moods. One moment content, the next prickly. Sensations and feelings, all impermanent and just passing through. So unreliable!
Such is the paradox of being embodied.
Miraculous and mundane.
Wise and fickle.
Strong and vulnerable.
A blessing and a burden.
Totally amazing and nothing special.
Maybe that’s the real teaching here – how to be with complexity, how to have space for the whole range of truth, how to stay attuned in each shifting moment.
What if we let our bodies teach us this, every single day?
