Hello Girlies!
We are officially in summer! The sun is out, so it’s sunglasses on. My fanny pack is loaded with sunscreen, medical essentials, and my phone, ready to jot down notes or take photos if I remember. Let’s be honest—I often forget to snap that shot, ha ha! Every summer gets easier for me, even though it used to be my least favorite. Summers brought identity insecurities, constantly reminding me how different I felt. Shorts revealed my leg orthotics. Lightweight, cropped clothes made me want to layer up, hiding scars and my not-so-skinny figure. I often felt ashamed in a one-piece bathing suit, wanting to be like girls who wore bikinis. I worried it wasn’t just hard for me to show what I couldn’t control, but also for others to accept. Have you ever felt this? If you’re reading this, you probably have—or you’re still struggling, or you’re daring to test the ‘what if,’ weighing how confident you are to do what you long to try.
From my experience, it takes breaking out of your comfort zone and learning to love who you are. Sometimes, you won’t try new things until you’re older or experiment privately until you feel comfortable in your skin. I still face these challenges as a thirty-year-old woman who’s come a long way. If you want to try something new, start by preparing your why and building confidence. Send the message: I am proud of what I have, even the things I cannot control! But how do you know when it’s the right time? Ask yourself these questions:
Why am I ashamed of showing these things about myself?
Do these imperfections dictate what I can and can’t do or wear?
Who am I, and who am I trying to impress or compare myself to?
Am I doing this to “fit in” or to feel beautiful?
In the end, in my life, there are only two things you have to become confident in all these questions. I am a created masterpiece, and if I’m pursuing these discomforts to become free from past insecurities, then I can believe that it is for my own growth and not for others to share, judge, or make me feel unworthy of trying and succeeding in my confidence in who I am. Also, I am doing this for an audience of one whose name is Jesus, and His word says this about me. I was fearfully and wonderfully made. That my body does not dictate my beauty or my personality, but instead it shows what I am willing to let go of past hurt, pain, and shame, and allow myself to feel free and pure of anything others around me try to make me feel or the need to cover up. Start small and work your way up to your goal.
You can be Confident!
You can feel Beautiful!
You can be Sexy!
You can be a Fierce Woman!
You can live a full life and be a Daughter of Christ!
No more Shame, No more Fear, No more Covering Up!
Be Bold and Radiant, ready to shine this summer!
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