Today it was my D Day. Or, better said, it was my B Day. No, not my birthday, but the first time, this year, I wore a bikini in public.
Some of you will probably think what’s going on with such a silly thing: OK, enjoy the beach and the sun, don’t forget your SPF protection… But I am quite sure that most of you will understand, that you will know what I’m talking about. And you will be probably right.
For anyone who suffered and suffers from any of the thousands of different eating disorders and body image distortions -and, trust me, that’s quite a lot of people-, this day is very, very important. Like one of the most freaking days of the year.
There’s the preparation. You have to choose the bikini you will be wearing, which means you will have to try it on and face the mirror. That mirror will reflect your actual body, almost nude. And whether you like what you see or not, that’s the real you: the person people will see in a beach or a swimming pool. You will probably try not to look for long, but once you get it, go for the next step.
And there’s the real action. You’ll get out and reach the beach. You’ll spread out your towel on the sand and put your staff on it. And now (drum roll…), you’ll get your clothes off and expose your bikini body to the public. The worst 30 seconds in your life. Every year. Unavoidable.
But that’s all, folks: 30 shitty seconds of panic. There are around seven billion people in the world. I swear everyone will not be looking at you; neither at your body. The people you are sourrounded by will actually and probably be feeling the same! That’s how stupid we human beings are.
Instead of reading a good book, playing freely with our kids or jogging a little bit on the seashore, we double up, put on some big sunglasses and pretend our body is not there with us. But it is; it is not going to disappear or miraculously become a Victoria’s Angels’ one. I am not going to tell you that you are not only much more than a body, but also further much more than a simple piece of clothing.
I do not want to talk about tips or deeper feelings. This is my way of asking you to please charge and inspire yourself with all the incredible, beautiful and truly helpful body positivity influencers out there. Do not stare at your tummy; do not pinch your thighs; do not stay at home; do not keep your T-shirt on when it’s burning out there. Please, do not. You, me, everyone: we deserve better! We are rational beings!
And after all this, I just wanted to share with you that I actually did it! I put on my bikini, walked to the beach with a summery dress, sat on my towel and voilà… my bikini and I sunbathed for like 15 minutes. Yes, that was all… Galerna (stormy northwest wind, very common in the Basque coast) invaded our area and everyone dissppeared.
But effort made (a huge one) and mission accomplished! If I could, so can you.
Pic by @lebroudy