Epiphany while buying running shorts

Nickle526

I just started wearing shorts last summer for the first time (I'm 29). I have always had bigger thighs, no matter what my weight was. I remember being IN THIRD GRADE and refusing to wear a pair of pants because I thought they made me look fat. I have always been super self conscious of my legs and even when I was wearing shorts last year, they went to my knee.

I have always known on some level that I wanted to wear shorts, but didn't because I was afraid of what people would think or say. And yes, I have had people say rude comments about my body before, it does happen. Someone actually called me "thunderthighs" at. a. FUNERAL.

So yes, I suffered the heat in pants because I am that afraid of ridicule.

Fast forward to today.

I am a special needs caregiver, and my friend was having lunch with his niece. I had some time to kill so I popped into TJMaxx. I am training for a Marathon and have an 8 mile run tonight. Today is our first really warm day up here in NH and it occurred to me that I don't have any cool pants to run in. So I'm looking at the active wear, and decide to try a few pair of shorts on.

I try these bright pink, slit-up-the-side, super cute shorts. And I look good! I haven't looked at my legs in a mirror since I started training and I was SHOCKED! They are still about the same size but a lot firmer and not so much cellutlite. I'm looking at myself in my glory, and then decide not to get them. I thought clear as day "Someone is more likely to holler a comment my way in shorts than if I wear pants. I will just wear pants." I have had thoughts along these lines many times.

Except today was different. I looked at myself in the mirror and actually said aloud "You will not be so afraid of other people that you will friggin suffer in G*DD*MN PANTS!

This must sound so stupid, but I feel like something big happened for me today! I brought home the shorts and my boyfriend smiled so big. He knows what an issue this is for me.


TLDR: In the words of Ted Nugent: Life begins at Point A and ends at Point B...Kick maximum *kitten*!