All Bodies Are “Summer Bodies”

 { By Miranda Martin }

As summer creeps around the corner, you may hear things like, “get swimsuit-ready,” or “get ready for your beach body.” Well, guess what? All bodies are summer bodies. All bodies are beach bodies. All bodies are good bodies.

The social pressure to look a certain way can be intense, but know that your body has kept you alive and well during a pandemic, and that says a lot about its power. Your body is a powerful thing, and it’s important to honor it at all times.

That said, here’s a love-letter to my body ahead of “swimsuit season”—

To my body— forgive me for the times I’ve used exercise as a way to “punish” you, instead of as a way to empower and strengthen you. Forgive me for the times I’ve treated food the same way; as a guilt-inducing shame-fest rather than a moment to enjoy, savor, celebrate our sense of taste, and power you through our day. Forgive me for the times I’ve spoken poorly about you, even after you survived a pandemic, months in lockdown, and other complete “shocks” to your system. 

Forgive me for all the times I’ve said you weren’t “swimsuit” or “summer ready”, despite you powering and propelling me through those warm days on the river or in the lake with strength and beauty. Forgive me for it all, and never let me take you for granted again, no matter what you “look” like. Remind me to focus on how you feel, and how you empower and enable me to live the life I want to live. Remind me, remind me, remind me.

In other words? Go, enjoy your summer, and don’t deprive yourself for the sake of “swimsuit season”.