I had an interaction with a client last week centering on swimwear. Bikinis, specifically. You know, the whole, “I’m not fit enough to wear a bikini right now!” Because it’s summer, and vacations and lakes and pools and body image issues.
And my response was calm (as calm as tough-love-Kourtney can be), but something along the lines of the very popular cartoon, “Want a bikini body? Put a bikini on your body!”
But it’s the truth.
That’s not a thing just to piss people off and make them feel inadequate. It’s a thing because it’s 100% real life. It’s just a freaking swimsuit. It’s kinda like the shorts.
I get it. Our society has perpetuated this ridiculous ideal that all women should look like Gisele in a bikini. Or Scarlett Johansson. Or whoever else you personally perceive as having a perfect almost-naked body. But the truth is, none of those bodies we see so often are perfect or ideal or standard. (Not to mention the fact they’re all filtered and Photoshopped.)
I further questioned my client during our conversation about exactly what constitutes the “right” body to wear a bikini. I got an eye roll and a response that basically said, definitely not mine.
But why not?
The only thing that is keeping you from wearing a cute little two-piece number is your own insecurities. And the fear that some stranger is going to judge you. Some stranger? Really? Who gives a crap? Or maybe it’s someone you know. I really emphasize the who gives a crap on that one. If someone you call a friend or family is going to judge your body, you should probably rethink hanging out with them. There are better people to go to a pool party with.
And I’m sure you’re thinking it’s easy for me to sit here and say these things, while I look pretty lean and fit in mine. I’m not trying to pooh-pooh your feelings. Because I understand that they are human nature, I suffer from my own insecurities. We’ve all got our issues, and we’re all entitled to them. To be completely honest, on our cruise, I kind of felt like I was the one who didn’t fit in among all the different bikini bodies – short, tall, curvy, lumpy, smooth, muscular, thin, whatever.
But every single one of us rocked it anyway.
It’s really time that you did too. There is literally nothing holding you back from giving your belly a tan. Let it see the light of day, for Pete’s sake. Confront the insecurities, break them down, notice they’re probably irrational, and then go to the beach in your bikini.
It’s too hot for a one piece, and so are you.
