What a splash!
Yes, I went skinny dipping for the first time ever!
I can honestly say I know what freedom feels like now. When that cool water hit my skin, with no barriers, it was amazing. Being able to have the open sky above me and the fresh air to breathe, left me more exhilarated than I’ve ever been.
But it wasn’t just about being naked. It was about breaking through one of my strongest and tallest barriers, the one that told me I couldn’t, and I shouldn’t, or that it was wrong.
I did it! All of me, imperfect me, insecure and frightened me, I pushed through all of that and jumped right in.
Now I know that might not be something that you’d like to do–not everyone has the same goals or ideas. I’m not suggesting that in order to experience freedom you need to leap naked into a pool, but I’m sure you have your own barriers that tell you, you shouldn’t, you couldn’t.
We as women start building these barriers from the time we are little girls, when we’re admonished to keep our skirts down, or not to play football with the boys, or the endless listing of what is not ladylike. As we get older we begin to get the messages from romantic partners, and the media. This is what a woman should or shouldn’t do in order to be attractive, acceptable, or feminine.
We build these barriers with our own experiences, moments when we narrowly avoid embarrassment or witness someone else making a mistake that we hope we never will.
But our freedom is on the other side of those barriers. It’s a place where we don’t have to worry about what other people will think, or whether we will be judged as not good enough.
It’s a place where we do things because we want to, not because we’re permitted to. What does your freedom look like? It might be walking out of the house without make-up on. It might be wearing bold colorful make-up. It might be applying for that promotion that you’ve been telling yourself you couldn’t, or shouldn’t try for. It could even be standing up to someone who makes you feel less than.
I dare you to peek past your barriers and see how your freedom could be expanded, and then ask yourself, is this really a risk I want to avoid?
Taking that big leap, making a giant splash, is worth it, if it leads to true freedom.
Love,
Sammy
Leave a Reply