To the main one who holds me up,

I just had to take the time to thank you for all of your hard work. You hold me up when I feel knocked down. You are the one who keeps me moving when I feel lost. You help carry all my weight, and I do not know how to ever thank you for all of the hard work that you have ever done since Day One.

Yet, I take you for granted more than I appreciate the hard work that you have done for me. I cannot imagine how my life would be without you. What is more unsettling is how much I take you for granted.

Some days, it is alright because I am the one who shows some appreciations. However, that is not often enough. Why is that? I am swamped with my schedule. I have six classes this semester: four English classes, one political science class, and one IDC class (required class by Bellarmine University). I am now in three clubs/ organizations: Bellarmine Activities Council, Bellarmine University Gaming, and Bellarmine's group for The Odyssey Online. Each of these organizations are highly time consuming. Also, I work two jobs: Bellarmine Library and Bellarmine University Dining Hall.

Through my swamped schedule, I forget about you. Why is that? What can I do to fix that? I'm sorry for everything that I have done or neglected to do.

Now, who is it that I have neglected to show appreciation to?

Well, it just happens to be my own body.

Starting with my feet...

I do, occasionally, take appreciation for the hard work that my feet do. Sometimes, I may paint my toe nails to make them look nice. Yet, most times, I leave them alone. After some nail polish has been on my toe nails for a couple days, there is some polish that remains on some toe nails until I physically take it off, which means that my toes are neglected more than they should be.

Instead, I wear socks and shoes quite frequently. Some pairs of shoes make my feet ache from standing in them all day at work. Breaking in shoes is the most difficult part because my feet may ache so much that I do not want to walk. Yet, no matter what, my feet have never let me down.

Next, it would probably be my hair. You annoy me often, and I leave you pulled up in a pony tail or a bun. I hate trying to do any work when you get in the way. I forget the hidden, golden beauty that I see wrap around my face in an innocent and mysterious way when I take pictures or look in the mirror. I love how soft you are after I brush you and run my fingers through you. So, why do I get so annoyed when you get in the way of working?

Finally, I cannot believe that neglect I have had on my body as a whole. Sometimes, I forget to eat food due to my schedule being packed. Sadly, I hate to admit it, but I do forget to eat more often than I should. When I do remember, I eat something small and unhealthy in my dorm, or I get some food from the dining hall. I only get food from the dining hall if I am going with at least one friend.

Another problem is that I forget to get sleep, or I fight to stay awake in order to work on some homework or another project. I get up at three in the morning for work study in the library. Even more often than getting up for work study, I do not lay down to go to sleep until around ten at night. Due to that, I feel tired and exhausted almost every day. I have a difficult time trying to focus in class when I get exhausted.

There are times that I do show some appreciation for how much I adore my own body. I love creating a spa day for myself. Some things that I love to use would be soaking in bath salt water and homemade facials. After my spa day, I feel fresh and rejuvenated. It is an amazing feeling which continues to make me feel blessed for everything that my body has done for me.

Body, I am sorry for the neglect that I have shown over the years. I am someone who cannot just forget how I need to appreciate everything that you have done for me. Thank you, and I love everything about you. I will never forget that you will always be there for me.

Thank you, body.

-Kayla

(A girl who appreciates your hard work!)