This year I’m embracing summer. I said it. I typically HATE summer. Summer is not nice to those with a few (ok more than a few) extra pounds. It’s a hot, sweaty, clothes-bunching, chafing, stinking mess of a season for the rotund. But much like Ashli Brehm wrote in her book, I’m going to wear the damn swimsuit.

From 2006(ish) to 2021, I’ve only worn swimsuits around my family. From 2006-2011, I didn’t actually own a swimsuit. I refused to put one on. Of course, I lived in Alaska and Illinois during that time, neither state known for their sandy beaches. Nevertheless, my body stayed covered with pants and shirts, hoodies if I could get away with it.

Alas! No more. I am going to wear the damn swimsuit. I hesitated about joining our community pool because of my body issues previous years. This summer I say to hell with it. I’m wearing the damn swimsuit and joining the damn pool.

My boys are prime pool and beach loving age. They don’t give a crap what I look like in my swimsuit. They just want me to play with them. They could care less that I’m self-conscious. They just want me in the pool.

I’m not going to say that I’m 100% comfortable. That may take some time. I’ll probably always have some level of self-consciousness. That’s ok. What isn’t ok is missing out on life because I don’t love the way I look. I’d hate to get to the stage of my kids being grown and look back and think, I should’ve just worn the damn swimsuit.

So ladies. Wear the suit. Jump in the pool. Do all the things. At least, all the things you want to do within the limits of the law.

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