Hello to Summer and Swimsuits, Goodbye Sidelining Self Conscious Thoughts

With the passing of Memorial Day yesterday, we have started the summer season! It's freedom from school for the kids. It's a bit of the hectic juggle of work and summer kids schedule for working parents. It's the joy of longer days and cool sips for all.  For some, summer brings the fear and loathing of sleeveless tops, shorts, and bathing suits.

I've been there holding my arm just so over my belly pooch, wandering how big my thighs might look or if they jiggled too much when I walked, if my developing tan was enough to disguise my cellulite dimples.  All while casually pretending like I was effortlessly hanging out in my bathing suit. YEARS of summers not feeling free in my swimsuit body.

I was able to lessen all the self conscious thoughts that persisted from May to September in my bathing suit.  I can't say there was a clear, perfect day where I shed my towel, threw my arms up and released myself from the negative self-talk (though that would be a great story).  Rather, it was a slow process of questioning all those thoughts and accepting myself as I was - in my ever changing body. 

I began to pay more attention to the joy of being poolside, wake surfing behind a boat, or walking on the beach.  Being and doing, not thinking or judging. 

There are still moments of brief insecurity, but what I am gonna really be able to do about my thighs while standing next to a pool in my bathing suit?  I instead rest in the comfort that I move my body for joy not for aesthetics. Then I run and jump into the water, squinting my eyes in the bright sun that brings the great pleasures of summer.

May this summer be the summer that you can start to let the shackles of negative self-talk lessen their grip. Heck, maybe you can throw your towel off and hands up in the air to total freedom of your swimsuit body. It will be a great story either way.

Cheers to the start of summer!

Beth