I Used to be a Wild Woman

I used to be a wild woman. Sounds fun I know. The more adventuresome and reckless the experience the more I would jump at the opportunity. There was even a time I took a job online and within 24 hours decided to move all the way to the Middle East. Just like that. Many of my friends told me they lived vicariously thorough my adventures, but that all changed when I got sick.

It turns out I wasn't treating my body very well on these adventures and I felt a twinge in my tummy at the impending doom sneaking up upon me – so naturally I ignored it and hoped on my plane. Within weeks I was back in Canada with no clue as to what was happening to my body or where to go for help. I mean what was I to learn from my body revolting against me? In that moment I would have said nothing, but as some years hind sight has shown me – I've learned a lot.


Because I did daily meditations on this I found out three really important things based on the fact that the body “operates on the premise that sensation, breath and movement are the body's form of speech and that if we listen to this speech we can complete and release stored trauma, relearn how to feel excitement and pleasure and engage in activities that nourish.” Christine Caldwell, Getting our Bodies Back.

My Body is my greatest teacher when it comes to how I'm feeling, emotionally.
I had this job once that every morning before work I felt such anxiety I had to literally be still and meditate so I could calm down enough get to this high stress workplace. My body was telling me something especially when my back went out because this was not a nurturing or supportive environment to work in. The back being my 'support centre' was a tell tale sign I did not feel supported in the job I was currently in – so I made a switch and things have gotten better.

My Body is my best barometer for my life's situation.
Call it a gut feeling or even anxiety but when a situation is 'off' somehow my body knows it. For me it starts with some fluttering in my chest to a tense jaw. Then if I really ignore what my body is saying to me it goes further to some serious digestion problems. Interestingly enough often my symptoms quickly resolve when I ask myself 'what's going on here or what do I need here?' Unless of course I ate something bad the night before, and then of course my body is telling me something else entirely.

My Body is a non-renewable resource: So use with care.
I was wild...I still kinda' am but I actually ask my body if it's able to do the things I want it to do now. For example, I danced all weekend and boy it was fun. Intuitively I knew I could handle this with my back and health but last weekend, no way, I needed rest. I also think that's why I was able to cope with one of the most stressful weeks I've had since moving to the city because I listened when my body said slow down so that it could recharge.

Sometimes honoring myself means saying no to the present situation so that in the future I can say yes to the things I want to do. It means having boundaries around my health (and sanity) so that I can be at my best when needed for me and others. So as far as being a wild woman I'd say I still have the makings of one I'm just a wiser, wilder version of myself, and I hope that given time and space to hear your body speak to you, you can hear that wise woman too.