Halfway through another work week and another Quote of the Day. I’ve long heard the saying “Your body is a temple.” It was usually used as a way to explain why I shouldn’t get a tattoo or an ear piercing or other such body modification. I can understand that point of view whether or not I agree with it. However, for me that sentiment has taken on a deeper meaning in recent years. As I think about a temple I’ve tried to understand what exactly does that represent to me. What I came up with is that it symbolizes repentance. It represents my self-awareness that I’m not perfect, I’ve made mistakes, I have room to grow and improve. It is the idea that my goal today is to be better than I was yesterday. I can never be perfect but I can strive for it even so. As I correlate that to the idea of my body being a temple. It’s not just about justifying why not to do something. It is the idea that the work isn’t done. I can always get better, I can always work to do more. It also represents the idea of forgiveness. I’ve tried and failed. I have made mistakes and done things wrong. There were life lessons not life sentences. My duty is to learn, grow, change, adapt. It is not a competition against someone else. It is not a zero-sum game. Thinking of my body as a temple is about doing the best I can to honor that temple and the greater person behind that building. Treating my body as a temple is about doing the best I can, trying to get better and to be me… just the best, healthiest, most honest version of me I know to be. Is your body a temple? Have a blessed day, y’all! Stay safe, stay dry and enjoy another beautiful day.
