Why is Bikini such a Scary Word?
I am not sure when bikini became such a terrifying word, but to many, bikini season can induce feelings of panic and fear. Bikini season can be the driving factor behind crash diets, low self-esteem, tears, and frustrated fits in the dressing rooms of malls across the world. Bikini’s shouldn’t be that intimidating, they are simply a piece of apparel. There is no mass panic over scarf or sweater season! Yet buying a new swimsuit (from my personal experience) can be harder than picking out the perfect wedding dress!
This year I decided that I was going to break my fear of the word bikini by buying one for myself. You should know a few key things about me.
- I had a baby 7 months ago
- I haven’t worn a bikini in 10 years
- I do not have the perfect bikini body
When you meet me, I guarantee the first idea that would pop into your head would NEVER be…Gosh I hope I get to see her in a bikini! I am not skinny. I am curvy and not cute size 6 curvy either! However I have decided the number on the scale should not dictate what I choose to wear. It is just a number, there is no requirement saying that at a certain weight one has to endure bulky skirted swimsuits.
I bought my bikini, brought it home and tried it on, because I knew if I tried it on at the store I would have chickened out and left it behind! When I showed my husband, his first response told me everything I needed to know. He had a big smile on his face. He told me I looked beautiful and he was shocked that I would choose that swimsuit. Now what you should know about my bikini is it is one of those with the super high bottoms, so there isn’t as much exposed as those lovely strings Victoria Secret sells.
Next I showed my mother on FaceTime, her response was simple, “your braver than I am.”
It was this response that got me thinking. Since when did bravery become associated with wearing a swimsuit? The more I thought the more I realized I needed to stop my cycle of over critizing myself because that is a trait I don’t want my daughter to pick up on. I am a friend, daughter, sister, wife and mother-that is who I am. What I wear doesn’t define who I am. This bikini season that is what I am going to focus on. I have an amazing group of family and friends that love me for who I am, not what I wear. It is time for me to stop putting so much thought into my appearance and spend that time focusing on what matters, my family and friends.
To all those out there that are going to focus on my appearance and what I am wearing at the pool…I would like you to know I am truly touched that you would spend so much of your valuable time thinking and talking about me and my appearance. I am sorry but I will not waste my time worrying about you. If you don’t like me because of what I am wearing or what I look like in my bikini than you aren’t someone I have time to deal with anyway.
My hope is that my daughter will grow up knowing she is beautiful and loved, and that what she wears doesn’t define her, who she is and what she does will define her!
If you are still wondering if a bikini is for you, here is a great chart!
