Last year, I complained about "The Agony of the Swimsuit Search," the painful process that leads to poor self-esteem and a grumpy attitude towards life. In that Blix, I wrote, "And here's The Big Question: Can I be a feminist and still want to find a swimsuit that makes me feel pretty?"
One year later, I'm here to say: It doesn't matter. Go buy a swimsuit and have fun. Today.
It's summer again. We wait for it all year, planning vacations and cook-outs. Somewhere during this time, the opportunity to be in water will present itself. Hotel, resort, lake, river, ocean. For way too many of us, panic sets in: Omigod, I'm going to have to wear a swimsuit. Yes you are, girlfriend. We all are. So let's get to it.
Think back to when we were in grade school. We went to the public pool every single day that was warmer than 70 degrees or not raining. I had one swimsuit for the entire summer--my mom sewed the pool pass on the left shoulder. I can't tell you a thing about the color or pattern of any swimsuit, except they were all one-piece. I just put it on and rode my bike to the pool, not giving a damn how I looked.
High school and college brought fewer opportunities to actually be in water. Mostly swimsuits were for tanning, after we slathered on the baby oil. Or to tempt boys. But we now cared about what we showed off. Body image and social acceptance had kicked in. We copied the styles that Colleen Corby was wearing in Seventeen--never mind that we didn't have a prayer and would never look cute in a triangle scarf.
On to adulthood. If we had children, we wore swimsuits out of necessity. To the pool, on vacation, at the beach--so we could keep the kiddos from drowning. The crazy thing? Our bodies were changing, but we didn't have time to stop and consider. We bought something that fit, hopefully concealing our flaws. And off we went, cellulite and all, enjoying life.
You know the rest. Middle age arrived and we believed we couldn't let the world see that we were...getting older. As if every other woman our age had somehow escaped this fate. Some of us didn't get a new suit for decades. We didn't need one, because there was no way in hell we were going to expose our thighs or stomachs or butts to anyone we remotely knew. Maybe we'd pack a swimsuit for a trip or cruise to wear around complete strangers or our families. But that was the limit.
Years passed. And you know what? Well, maybe you already do--it just took me a little longer to figure out. We have always looked good! Our bodies have always been exactly right for each season of life. We are our own worst critics. In ten years--five, even--we'll look back and realize we looked absolutely fine "back then." And we'll wish we'd put on a swimsuit and jumped in the pool every chance we had. Who gives a shit what other people think?
So. I've reconsidered The Big Question in last year's Blix. I remain a feminist, but now I know I'm pretty in a swimsuit. And so are you. Get out there and be Your Gorgeous Self!
Yup. The thing we walk around in is our body. The only one we get-so enjoy it, forpetesake!
Posted by: Linda K Clark | 05/31/2015 at 11:19 AM
I'm not going to live in Hawaii and miss out on ocean swimming. I like a two piece suit with boy shorts or board shorts and am not in the least self conscious about how I look on the beach.
Posted by: Hattie | 06/06/2015 at 03:09 AM