Kirsten Bosly from Perth, Australia has become a world celebrity overnight, thanks to her powerful words about body shaming.
During a recent trip to the beach with her family, Kirsten felt uncomfortable, embarrassed and ashamed of her body in a swimsuit.
Kirsten, who is plus-size, has always been extremely nervous about showing too much skin, and has time and time again refused to be photographed without a thick layer of clothing on.
But when she stood on the beach with her children and husband, Kirsten realized something that would change her life…
Kirsten shared her thoughts on the Facebook page 1MotherBlogger:
“Today marks a new beginning for me.
For most of my life I have hated my body.
Despised it.
Loathed it.
Resented it.
Wanted so very much for it to change; for it to be smaller, thinner… less “fat”.
I’ve used it and abused it.
I’ve blamed it for a lot of things.
I’ve been terribly ashamed of its wobbles and dimples; like somehow they are the measure of who I am.
I recently read a meme that said something along the lines of “be in pictures with your kids because when you’re gone, the pictures will be all they have left” and it struck a nerve.
I’ve avoided pictures most of the time as I disliked how I looked in them.
“Not any more!
Bugger that noise!
The truth is, I’m tired of being ashamed of my body; it’s done nothing but support me for 41 years.
So today I let go.
I let go of the hatred and resentment of this body of mine and chose to enjoy it for what it is; my body.
I asked The Pants to take this photo so the kids will remember us enjoying this day together, cellulite and all.
No cover up.
No board shorts.
No “modesty” towel.
No filters.
Just us.
Any you know what?
I’m not ashamed.
Really.
I look at this photo and all I can see is how happy we are and that’s awesome.
I finally feel free and it feels fucking awesome!“
Well said, Kirsten!
Kirsten reports that she has now been able to enjoy precious moments with her family, rather than constantly worry and feel self-conscious about her body.
“I was standing on the beach, stressing out about it, and just had a moment of clarity when I realized the only person judging me in that moment was me,” Kirsten told the Today Show in an email. “Nobody was paying me any attention and the only thing stopping me from just letting go and embracing myself fully was a bag full of hang-ups that I had created and chosen to carry around.”
Now Kirsten hopes that her positive message can help others feel more comfortable with their bodies, too.
And I can only agree – we only have one life – and we must take advantage of every second!
Please share Kirsten’s thoughts if you agree that we should be better at accepting ourselves and enjoy life.