There’s a book for kids that I think all adults should read too: Parts by Tedd Arnold. The child in the book experiences their body and moves into panic mode as various parts of the body do very normal things. The book ends with the parents explaining the body, while holding a book titled “parenting for beginners”, the child realizes “all of me is normal”.
Many of us grew up without basic knowledge about how human bodies and minds work, so we feel “not normal” when we have a very normal human reaction. Maybe no one told you that it’s normal to feel scared, mad, and sad. Or maybe no one taught you how to love and understand all that your body does. We don’t accept the feelings that arise naturally. We don’t accept our bodies. We can think there’s something wrong with us and that leads to shame, judgment, and even panic.
But what if we accepted all the parts of ourselves – even our bellies, our angry thoughts, or our impulse to hide. If we did accept everything about ourselves, we could simply live, appreciate, and love what is. Notice what events, thoughts, reactions, or body parts lead you towards hating or rejecting yourself. And then try believing that it’s normal, you’re normal, and move into a mindset of curiosity and care for whatever is happening in the moment.
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