Re: Wetlook and body insecurity
Posted by wiley on November 25, 2025 at 21:13:55
in Reply to: Wetlook and body insecurity posted by Phil on November 16, 2025 at 21:07:51:
it took me a long time to get past body shame as well. I hated soccer practice in high school, where scrimmages were comprised of two teams, "shirts or skins" and I dreaded hearing that I was going to have to take my shirt off. I was in decent shape, but no washboard abs on me, so I always felt self conscious about my body, like many people do at that age. Well into adulthood, I was out for a fully clothed swim at a park with a fountain I knew. I patiently waited until other people had left, kept vigilant eyes on the whole place so I wouldn't get "caught" when something in my brain snapped. I asked myself, "why do I care what these total strangers think of me? What are they going to do, call my mom and tell on me? I laughed at the idea, and from that point on, I was far less inhibited about jumping into a fountain, rolling in the mud, swimming in the ocean, all while fully clothed. Sometimes people would notice I was wet but frankly, most of the time they never did. No one has ever said anything to me about being soaked in my clothes other than "you look like you went for a swim!" as they pass by. No one cares, and those that do aren't going to hassle you for doing so. They can think I am weird, but I literally don't care anymore. When it's hot out, and I out for a hike, I take my shirt off, pot belly and all, and I don't care if I see people on the trail or if they see me. It feels very liberating, and no one has ever said anything to me about it. It took some mental maturity for me to accept my body, but it has been worth the effort. I now swim in my clothes whenever I feel the urge, regardless of what people "think" about me.