Two years ago, I stood out on my {kickass} in-law’s dock, in my “swimdress,” waved my hands in the air, and then, wrote a blog post entitled, WEAR THE DAMN SWIMSUIT.
That blog post went bonkers. I had email after email telling me that those words I wrote were inspiring, that me posting a pic in my swimsuit was motivational. The comments were encouraging. Kind. And made me feel like my little words could make a bigger impact. And that is wonderful.
But also.
Yes. But ALSO…
I wrote a book. I know, you probably already know that. But it’s necessary to this BUT ALSO. Because the book IS my swimsuit.
Say what?! No. I’m not talking gibberish. I’m talkin’ facts here.
Initially, wearing the swimsuit WAS about a swimsuit, right? I was literally in a swimsuit for the featured picture. But also.
But also, the swimsuit, for me, is so stinking much more. It is a lycragarb representation of the pseudo-weird shit we let consume us with fear.
The first chapter in the book, the chapter that IS all about the swimsuit, explains better than I can here in this short blog post. (So go buy the book if you want… it’s available on Amazon.)
But essentially, it is a reminder for ME (from cancer-me)… and to you… that we allllllll have things we are holding back from in life because of fear. Or because we’re scared of failing. Or EVEN bigger, what people will think.
And usually, we are allowing those things… even those as benign as a piece of clothing… to keep us out of the living-ness that life can bring.
Since I wrote that initial post… the one with the EMPHATIC directive {yes. featuring the brazenly bold use of the word DAMN right in the title} to don your swimsuit, I’ve been so elated by the response from women sharing, “I’M WEARING THE DAMN SWIMSUIT!” I’ve smiled and sometimes teared up knowing that four words have the ability to impact people. The notes and messages are proof that we are all pushing ourselves to be more body positive.
And body positivity is damn important.
Embracing the human-ness of my form has taken me most of my three.75 decades. It is no easy task to always love what we have — for us to look at other humans day-in and day-out — without comparing what we see to what they get. In fact, I think the presence of social media and messages which appear to flash perfection — from how we look to how we live — it’s a whole lot easier to decide NOT to wear the damn swimsuit and be vulnerable than it is to pull that sucker up and show everyone what you’re workin’ with.
And that choice, I believe, will offer a trickle down effect to our babies and future generations.
But also…
But also I need you to know this. If you are a person who has never ever ever had an issue with your swimsuit. OR… If you have and do and will keep on putting on the swimsuit… then… what?
What next, friend?
What is your SWIMSUIT?
Initially, my swimsuit was getting over the fear of what people would think of my thighs in a swimsuit.
Truly. Putting on the swimsuit… wearing the DAMN SWIMSUIT was, in fact, putting one leg in… then two… then pulling it up… then walking out into the wide open and wearing the suit.
So to wear the damn swimsuit… that’s done. Task complete. Check that one off.
That’s done. The bandaid has done been ripped. My swimsuit body has hundreds of thousands of views and not because I’m in a magazine featuring swimwear. Because I chose to write a post about wearing a swimsuit which necessitated me wearing one.
And I don’t regret it one bit.
Do I think my body is perfect? Nah. But no one’s is, my dear. {Think about that for a second. There is NO actual model for perfect, right? Right.}
Do I think my body is a wonderland? Oh heck to the yes. It’s been pretty wondrous at letting me be on this earth so I’m gonna go ahead and thank it for that and keep wearing the swimsuit when I want to get in the pool, walk on the beach, soak up the sun.
But also. There are a thousand other swimsuits in our lives. There are alllllll these things that we stand in fear of that would make little sense if we were trying to explain it to someone who had never known our world. Like the swimsuit.
And then, there are the things we tell ourselves we can’t do because… because we’re 30. Because we have kids. Because we aren’t supposed to take risks anymore. Because we are supposed to…
We worry that if we do then what will people think?
And guess what?! The people who you really care about will support you, even through your crazy. {or at least what you think of as crazy…} They just will.
So two years and one book later, what do I want you to know?
Wear the Damn Swimsuit, friend.
Whatever that is. Push yourself. Do the things.
Identify your swimsuit.
Sometimes “wearing the swimsuit” looks like you, in a zip-up hoodie and gym shorts, protecting your skin; still out, enjoying the day. The swimsuit looks totally different to every person, really.
Sometimes it looks like having a signing (or two or three) for your self-published dream knowing that this is where you felt God leading you to go.
It might be saving up and taking the trip soon instead of waiting for the “when everything is exactlyright” time. Because as you’ve probably figured out, never is everything in a human existence exactlyright.
It could be ditching the makeup, letting your hair whip in the wind and just loving your raw self. Showing that you are real and you have survived and are thriving. Every wrinkle and freckle and spot of you.
Maybe for you, it’s getting in the game you have no idea how to play.
Or perhaps it’s just getting off the couch because you believe in Health more than you believe in fear.
What if it is taking the new adventure?
Or picking up where you left off on an old one.
Ending the toxic relationship .
Hugging your Littles (or BIGS) as tight as you can every day because yes, you are that mom.
Taking your camera out and capturing the world.
Making a point to stop and say a prayer of gratitude for the day.
Catching a sunrise. Or seeing the sunset melt away from the day.
One day, it could be shaving your head.
Or cheersing because it’s a day you get to have.
Jumping — from the plane, or from the plan. Failing — because one day you will succeed.
Enjoying the food. Listening to the music. And letting a day become a part of you.
And yes. Wearing the DAMN swimsuit. Because sometimes, that’s the thing you fear that you just gotta get past.
…
It all sounds cliche and then, you realize that we let cliches be things we write or say over and over but don’t always actually do.
Spend the time. Sit a little longer. Love the little things for they are the big things. Life. Is. Short. These are all sage words because they are truth.
So do it, friend. Today.
Wear YOUR damn swimsuit. But also…
well. You know…
But also…
