More often than not people will identify themselves by their body. With labels of tall, short, thin, muscular, curvy, healthy, and unhealthy and the like, there are actually very few who are able to step outside of these ‘traditional’ definitions we have adopted so readily. Our flesh holds a blessed vehicle for us to carry with us our personal joys and troubles, our victories and our challenges.

Instead of defining it and thus letting the definition rule the way you treat your body, because there really is more to a body than size or shape, why not seize the opportunity to take ultimate care of it? Treat it as the beautiful vehicle it actually is.

There is a common metaphor often used when discussing the human body and it just happens to be a car. Both being vehicles we depend on to get us where we need to go, properly taken care of they can both be counted on and reliable in their own way.

How Do You Treat Your Car And How Do You Treat Your Body?

Often our cars receive better treatment than we do our very own bodies. From premium gas (no matter how much more expensive it is) to the scheduled cleaning on a regular basis, our automobiles are living the good life so to speak. Meanwhile, we are filling our bodies with junk food lacking in nutritional value, as well as not taking the time or money for basic care for our body and soul.

When our body gives us nudges such as pings and knocks and other loud, unavoidable signals when something is required, we tend to ignore it. However, the slightest sniffle or shimmy coming from underneath the hood of the car sends us immediately to our mechanic for diagnosis and treatment.

You may very well be thinking how dangerous it could be if you ignore these symptoms from your car. Although this is true, as brakes that are squeaking or an unusual grinding coming from the rear axle could result in an accident, the grunts and groans from your body could be equally dangerous. We’ve each heard those horrid stories of a friend of family member ignoring all the signs until it was too late to do anything about them.

Rather than continue on a possible path to destruction, appreciate your body in whatever situation it is in. It’s been pretty good to you this far, having taken you where you have needed to go, and hasn’t let you down as of yet. If you start taking fantastic care of it today, you will be able to embrace you healthy whole body.

Some Questions to Consider:

If you don’t take care of your car, it will be of no help to you when you need it. This includes putting in the proper fuel. If you are not, start making small changes beginning today. Drink enough water; replace junk food or fast food with food high in nutrients. Your body will take you far if you feed it well.

Are you noticing the check engine light shining at you from the dashboard? This is self care we are talking about here. It doesn’t have to be massages twice a week or expensive spa weekends four times a year, but if you can afford it, by all means, enjoy! If this isn’t a possibility, go for a walk, enjoy a bubble bath in candle light, schedule a family game night – there are many fantastic ways to take a step back to enjoy your life, find a balance and take care of the signals your body is shouting at you to be recognized.

It makes complete sense to take care of your personal well-being in all ways you know how and are capable of. You can choose to wait until the car breaks down on the side of the road to get the repaired done, or you can choose regular maintenance, bringing the car in for diagnostic checks at the first sign of a shudder or rattle that doesn’t feel right, or that spot of oil you just noticed in the driveway, any problem.

Last but not least, when you find the tread wearing thin on your tires, you replace them right? Each of us needs to take time out to evaluate the steady running of our lives, where we are and where we want to be. It’s normal for our needs change over time and ignoring these changing needs results in us ignoring who we really are – and this is not good for our health or our happiness.

So, next time you’re at the gas station or washing your car step back and remember that you wouldn’t be able to do any of those tasks if it weren’t for the divine vehicle you’re residing in – your body. Take great care of it; it’s the only one you get.