Is the camera on?

As so many people before me, as I have gotten older, I have become way more comfortable in my skin and with who I am.

The idea of standing out in a crowd doesn’t overwhelm me as much as it used to when I was younger. When I was younger, the most overwhelming part of standing out in a crowd is the thought of my body and people looking at it, like a camera on me, and this tied into painful ideas of my own body image. Fortunately, my body image has improved as I’ve gotten older and am still walking on this fake hip, six years longer than my prognosis, as I can still walk a half marathon, bike to my heart’s content, and am now seriously considering carrying a child. Those are amazing things my body can do.

So, the idea of standing out in a crowd is attractive to me.  I am comfortable speaking in public, thanks to six years of leading education groups. Besides, if I’m speaking out about something, it’s because I’m confident that I have substantive to offer, and you better pay attention.  🙂