Road Trip (Chickasaw NRA)

After spending time with my sister in Texas, the original plan was to drive to Louisiana to visit a family that I lived with when I was in the Army.

They ended up having a baby come premature so we decided to drive to Oklahoma to visit another friend from the Army. 

On the way to Oklahoma City we stopped at the

Chickasaw National Recreation Area

I had no idea what to expect,

but what we found was a great adventure. 

We walked some of the nature trails and found people playing in the swimming holes.

At one of these spots I saw something that I love!

I love it when I see pregnant women, or women who don't have the "perfect figure" wearing Bikini's.

I have heard so many people make disgusting remarks about the "Fat Girl in the Bikini."

but,

I love it!

I absolutely love it.

Now don't get me wrong...I'm a modest girl

and I appreciate modesty.

But this bathing suit issue has nothing to do with modesty.

It has everything to do with self-confidence,

and being OK in your body.

I have struggled with body image issues and feeling ugly and not OK with my shape...and mine is pretty descent.

But, not even when I was in the best shape of my life would I have ever considered wearing something that showed so much skin.

I always wished for that kind of confidence and self acceptance, but it was never there.

Then, in 2009 I was at the beach with my sister after I finished my Bike Ride

(you can browse through it if you click here)

It was there at the beach I saw an extremely white, extremely pregnant, and full of stretchmarks woman wearing a red polka dotted string bikini.

It was so shocking to me, because I had never seen something like that,

nor had I ever dreamed of wearing something like that while being pregnant.

And I appreciated her confidence.

I loved the way she owned the beach and didn't mind the stares and snickers.

I loved it.

So when the boy's asked to go swimming in the swimming hole,

I decided that I would put on my scandalous bathing suit.

I've still got a ways to go before I would feel confident wearing the bikini,

and I might not ever becuase I like to be modest

But I made a step towards self acceptance.

Someday I hope to feel as good about my self image as the girl at the Chickasaw NRA!