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Good morning.

I love sports. Ever since I was a little girl, playing football and tennis. Though in recent years, I have become more of an armchair athlete. So, following a summer of watching the Euros, Wimbledon, the Olympics and Paralympics, I felt totally inspired to make a change. For me, that meant returning to regular sports, more daily walks, and fewer packets of crisps.

In doing this, I became more conscious of the fact that my body is not where it was years ago and that it, too, has had its evolution. The creaks here and there, and the slower recovery after some ‘proper’ exercise means that I have to recognise my age and all that my body has been through.

Looking after our health can be a complicated business because of the lives we lead and what we inherit through our genes. I can still remember feeling particularly vulnerable after a health scare years ago. We can suddenly feel very mortal at times like these. We may need to make adjustments to the way we eat and live. Something about these necessary changes brings us back to ourselves and to the reality of our embodied nature. And that can be both empowering and scary.

The good news is that there are individuals and groups to help us. It’s good to recognise that, and to know that it’s a step-by-step process to living as best as we can.

So today, I pray for the discipline and gentleness to treat myself with kindness as I work to look after body and mind. Amen.