REI, Eyelashes, Swimsuits

On the 4th we decided, Beach! Cody was off, and since we are sort of in love with sunshine, that was the choice. And, being beach experts now :), it's easiest to just wear the swimsuit from home.  So I did. On the way Cody decided that he wanted to grab a beach chair and pulled into REI. We all went in. Went into a store, REI, in my swimsuit, and tiny little coverup. Walked into the store with probably half my a** showing. 

I wouldn't be writing about it if this wasn't impactful and if I didn't have a minute of pause where I sat down on the kid table, where Canyon was playing National Park Jenga. 

I was completely comfortable. 

Why? 

Because Nobody even looked at me. 

Nobody noticed, 

And nobody JUDGED!

A few years ago I started with eyelash extensions. 

I have short hair, no boobs, and look like a boy. So I have loved having long eyelashes. It's the only splurge, and feminine thing I engage in. They only last a few weeks at a time, and since they are not a 'thing' here, (hum, again, a place in the world where people don't judge) I decided to let my real lashes breath and have let the extensions go. I am working on the idea of self acceptance, but by being here, I am totally fine going about life, and stores, and outside world with no lashes.

I have written more than once about my anxieties. Questioning where they come from. I think I am ready to start thinking that through.

Middle Child- Yes, I just went with the flow. I was told by everyone what to do and wasn't in charge of anything, which was fine. But now I'm an adult and have to make the phone calls to schedule and arrange, and fix, and I don't like it. I realized this week that I would have enjoyed marrying someone who took care of me. Who took care of the scheduling, arranging, and fixing, or who babied me. Ha, that would have been fun. I guess it could be said that I created my situation, but I don't think so. I think I had to step up and fill in the gaps. I married an oldest child thinking, subconsciously that I would be taken care of. 

Vicki's child. She has never had a sad day. That's all I am ready to say.

Being Mormon. I know that this is a big part of it. But, I have a brain that takes me into a softer side of religion. Yes, I still do some things out of fear, Motivation by fear. And, Guilt, but those are not as pronounced as before. However, by being here, I recognize that other mormons create huge anxiety in their judgements. The pretense of perfection is deadly. I love love, freaking love being a mormon in virginia because here I am loved. Seen for me. Not judged for what I should be. 

Being a Pisces- the fish. Fish dart here and there, hide in the shadows, but never give up, love, and get hurt. 

And, laying on the beach, sun caressing my skin, waves rhythmically kissing my ears, I realized that inside I still have anxiety. It's chemical. It will always be part of me. I have situations in life that happen, but no harder than anyone else.  I have anxiety in my blood, or bones, or brain, and I'm not sure that really any of the other things would be hard if I didn't have it within. So, by understanding this, maybe, I can work on managing that instead of laying the blame elsewhere.