Swimsuit Woes: Overcoming Your Fear

Everyone knows the temperature is soaring and with that comes the obligatory trip to the beach, pool, or water park. This is then followed by major anxiety over what should be worn and problem areas that need to be covered. Maybe it's only me but I use to have a major fear of donning a bathing suit. Just the thought of everyone would looking at me would just send me into panic mode.

I remember it vaguely but clearly at the same time, it was 5 years ago at the Six Flags in Massachusetts. Six Flags is a Amusement park/ water park. The place is humongous. Thousands of visitors go through the park daily. I digress but the point is back then I use to have horrible self-esteem. I would constantly compare myself to others. Before I got to the water park I started getting emotional, I saw all the women around and saw how their bodies look compared to mine and I just started crying. I was a blubbering mess. My aunt and cousin looked at me like I had lost my mind. There across from the boat ride, I was almost having a panic attack. My aunt started to console me. She asked me what was wrong and I told her I didn't want to got to the water park. After much more hiccuping and sobbing I finally calmed down. My cousin gave me her pair of lime green shorts, I'll remember it those shorts forever.

Now that I look back at it, I want to be mad at myself but I can't. I was young then. I was a product of mass media who sold images to me that I bought into. Never should anyone breakdown at the water park because they don't feel pretty enough to enjoy themselves like everyone else. Yes it's swimsuit season and yes YOU should go to the beach, pool, water park and enjoy yourself. If you need a bathing suit look around. Eat before you go so you don't become overwhelmed. Know what works for your body. Mix and Match different pieces. Channel your inner fierceness, you know what works for you.

P.S. The first two pictures is me with my bathing suit top from when I went to the SAME water park yesterday. I didn't have a breakdown, I had fun and thought I was hot shit! Old Navy was allowing me to be fierce yesterday.

The second picture is me while I was in DC a few weeks ago. Yes I have a pouch but who gives a damn. The whole get up is from H&M.

Everything is untouched, me in the flesh.