My Knees - Katie sneek

Women’s bodies are complicated.  We are our own worst enemies.  
We can look at another woman and wish we had her “perfect” body, while the owner/occupant of that body secretly hates her __________ (fill in the blank).
We all have our thing. Almost every woman I know hates at least one part of her body.
For me it was my belly for years.  After having two babies 18 months apart, I still looked pregnant and would be crushed when someone exclaimed “Oh! You’re pregnant again!” My responses would vary depending on how I felt that day.  Sometimes it was a polite smile-not worth the conversation and sometimes it ended in tears-mine.  But over time, I’ve begun to love my belly.  It helped carry two babies, full term.  Resulting in two healthy babies.  
So for me, my least loved body part isn’t the most common reply to this question.
For me……it’s my knees.
Yup!  My knees.  What a silly part to be ashamed of.  To hide.  And hide I did.  
I went almost ten years without wearing shorts because I despised my knees.  
Almost ten brutal hot and humid Ontario summers spent in jeans or capris pants.
Sitting on the sidelines of many fun summer activities, family outings. 
Don’t even get me started on wearing a bathing suit.
Years of being uncomfortable.  Hot.  Sweaty.  Hiding.
But hiding from what?  
What I imagined others would say about my knees.  How stupid!
I’ve come to a few realizations after consuming A LOT of personal development books and podcasts.
1) What others think about me is none of my business.
2)They’re not even thinking about you! 
3)I am grateful for my healthy body as it is now.
Gratitude has helped me focus on all the things I can do with my knees.  
I can walk up and down stairs, hike, bike, swim, play tennis, volleyball and other sports I enjoy.  My knees are healthy and strong……for now.
A recent diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy has reinforced my gratitude for my current state of health.  No one knows what the future holds and one day I may be unable to use my knees as I do now.
So however I think my knees look….they work.  And they work well.
So, bring on the summer heat. Bring on the shorts!

- Katie