Tell All Tuesday
Hey Everybody! Today is Tell All Tuesday and you know what that means…it means another inspiring guest post! This week’s post comes to us from Caryn Kralovansky, a recent Half Ironman competitor and soon to be Full Ironman competitor.

Not too long ago, after a rigorous month or so of training, Caryn posted the following letter to her body on her Facebook page and inspired friends and family with her touching honesty and gratitude. Whether you’re a Wildflower triathlete or armchair quarterback, if you’ve ever experienced body-image issues, I’m sure you’ll appreciate “Dear Body.”

Dear Body,

Every day I look in the mirror and think you aren’t good enough.  Every day I think about food and how it will affect how you look.  Every day since grammar school I’ve compared you to everyone else on this planet.

Dear Body,

Yesterday I asked you to run 11.5 miles during the hottest part of the day in preparation for a half Ironman.  You did.  Today I asked you to cycle 102.5 miles.  I asked you to push hard and average 20mph on the way into Davis.  I asked you to pull other cyclists at 21 mph for 10 miles.  When other cyclists were struggling with the distance you were ready for more.  You sat patiently waiting for me to tell you to push. You did everything I asked.  All without complaint. Every day I ask you to do more.  To swim, to bike, to run.  Everyday. And every day I continue to think you aren’t good enough.  I look in the mirror and think you are too fat, too bulky, and too just not right.  I often compare your shape to that of a tree.  I complain because clothes don’t fit the way I’d like.  I feel uncomfortable in a swimsuit and god forbid anyone see you naked. The two times I marginally began to like you was when I starved you due to life situations.  Without nutrition and sleep I asked you to run at least twice a day.  And you did.

Several years ago I stopped the negative self speak that most women engage in.  I sit quiet as I hear other women say their bodies aren’t good enough.  I sit quiet in silent protest meanwhile I whisper to you that you should pay attention and listen to these complaints.  You are too fat, too bulky, and too unshapely.

Dear Body,

Today is the day that, in addition to sitting quiet during these ramblings of women, today is the day I stop telling you that you aren’t good enough.  Regardless of what image I see in the mirror I ask a lot of you.  Each time you give me 100%.  Any other being that has been treated this poorly will crack and fight back and stop giving to someone so unappreciative. But you don’t.

So today, today you are good enough, just the way you are. Tomorrow you will be good enough and each day after that you will be good enough. Today I finally appreciate you.

Caryn is a part-time desk jockey and full-time athlete, based in El Dorado Hills, California. In addition to her two favorite reasons for training—red wine and chocolate—”Pinkie” fuels her body with organic meats and vegetables grown in her own garden. Adventurous by nature, Caryn has traveled to six of the seven continents. She enjoys immersing herself in other cultures, which could mean lying on a beach in South America or climbing a mountain like Everest. When she’s home, she indulges in down time with her rescue dog, Rutzie.  A new athlete to the sport of triathlon, she recently completed her first half Ironman and will be attempting a full Ironman in 2012.

Share Your Story
As Katherine Center so eloquently puts it, “you have to be brave with your life, so that others can be brave with theirs.” Have you reinvented yourself in some way or are you owning your life and rediscovering what makes your heart sing? If yes, share your story and inspire others! Shoot me an email at owningkristina@gmail.com.