In Tandem

By Cecilia Yu

On my 46th birthday, to my surprise, I awoke feeling an enormous sense of gratitude for my body. Strange. Really, it was. Because just the night before, I was fretting about all the ways my body had sagged, folded, wrinkled, weakened, and basically become worn out by the last 14 years of motherhood. But miraculously, I snapped out of that self-pity rather quickly. I was reminded how incredibly fortunate I am to have woken up and be able to celebrate having orbited another year around the sun. 

As my gratitude seeded and took root in my heart, I quickly realized and was reminded of the incredible body parts I still have—working for me, in tandem and mostly in my favor and for my highest good. And in tandem, my brain, my heart, and my fingers waltzed collaboratively on my keyboard and orchestrated this poem. 

My birthday wish is for you to see how your body is also in tandem with your soul’s callings.

In Tandem: A poem by Cecilia Yu

These eyes—

they might squint, 

to make clear the little details of what’s in front of me.

But they never fail 

to see the ginormous love my kids’ eyes speak out loud for me.

To witness the despair of humanity that tears my heart.

This heart—

the ability to hurt because 

of its unlimited capacity.

To love even those who test my limits.

To forgive those who have burned holes in it.

To mend those holes, sometimes seared with scars of ashes, with hope that all—even misery—is impermanent.

For my hands have shown me that anything can slip through and vanish.

Happiness.

Grief. 

But when held close to the heart and savored for the briefest moment,

They can become the sweetest, 

sometimes bittersweetest,

of memories,

of lessons. 

Oh those lessons— 

the ones that my legs walked me to 

and sank my heart knee deep into. 

How I wished I had the willpower to dash from those situations so many times. 

But my heart somehow always raced forward, led, and reminded me to 

stay. 

To linger until the lesson was learned. 

Until my lungs can fully exhale and say, 

Lessons learned.

It’s OK.

Let it go.

It will be OK.

You are enough.

You are worthy.  

In tandem, 

this body worn from motherhood, womanhood, humanity, 

still works.

Without fail.

In synchronicity.

And for that I am incredibly grateful.  

Photos from Canva.

About the Author

Cecilia Yu is a self-compassion enthusiast and coach. Certified in Integrative Nutrition Coaching, Culinary Nutrition, Goddess Yoga and Women’s Circle Leadership, Cecilia empowers mommies and their loved ones to lead a healthy, soulful life through anti-inflammatory dietary lifestyle, meditations, yoga, journaling, and her Self-Compassion Circles for Moms. For inspiration, follow her on @CeciliaADoseofVitaminL (FB/IG).