What the Body Holds

There are moments when your body isn’t just your body 
it becomes a battleground, a vessel, a temple.

Whether you’re climbing the stairs of a stadium mid-Spartan race, giving birth, or simply getting out of bed during grief 
your body shows up.
If you let it.

But it doesn’t do it on empty.
It shows up when it’s nourished.
When it’s respected.
When it’s spoken to with kindness instead of command.

We think strength looks like muscle.
But sometimes, it looks like waking up after three hours of sleep and still breastfeeding.
Or carrying groceries, a baby, and the weight of anxiety  all in the same afternoon.

This isn’t about performance.
It’s about partnership.
You + your body = a lifetime relationship that deserves reverence.

The Conditions for Resilience

Your body doesn’t thrive because you punish it.
It thrives because you support it.

When it’s nourished:
Balanced blood sugar supports steady energy and clear thinking.
Minerals like magnesium and sodium help prevent muscle fatigue.
Protein repairs. Fats fuel. Water moves it all.
Nourishment isn’t vanity  it’s vitality.

When it’s rested:
Sleep is where the body heals what the world bruises.
It’s where hormones balance, muscles recover, and emotions stabilize.
Skipping rest isn’t noble  it’s sabotage.

When it’s treated with kindness: You can’t shame your body into power.
But you can support it into greatness.
That starts with softness. With asking what you need, then actually listening.

When It Counts: The Pressure Moments

We don’t really know what our bodies can do…
until we ask them to do the impossible.

Whether you’re racing, recovering, or just holding your life together 
your body’s capacity depends on what you’ve done before the pressure hits.

Science backs this up:
Proper nutrition, hydration, and rest improve endurance, resilience, and recovery.
In athletic events. In postpartum healing. In illness and stress.
Not because your body is perfect 
but because you prepared it to adapt.

Why Access Matters

It’s easy to say “feed your body well” when there’s a farmer’s market down the street.
It’s easy to talk about protein, healthy fats, and rest when your schedule allows for it.
But for too many women, mothers, and families  that kind of care isn’t accessible.

There are communities without grocery stores, let alone “organic” anything.
There are families working three jobs, trying to stretch one meal across four days.
There are people surviving  not because they aren’t trying 
but because the system wasn’t built with their wellness in mind.

This is why education matters.
This is why advocacy matters.

Because resilience isn’t just built in the body.
It’s built in policy. In access. In the way we care for everyone’s right to be well.

So yes, nourish yourself.
But also  fight for a world where that nourishment isn’t a luxury.
Where every body has the chance to rise.

Final Reflection

Healing isn’t just personal. It’s collective.
And if you’re in the process of learning how to care for yourself 
you’re already part of the movement.

Grab your coffee. Dive in. And don’t forget   your wellness is a right, not a privilege.

Sources:

Food Access Research Atlas
The Food Access Research Atlas (formerly the Food Desert Locator) is a mapping tool that allows users to investigate…www.ers.usda.gov