Shit Colleen says:

“I want to be one of those people who pack sneakers for our vacation so that we can exercise.”

June 24th 2010 –porchrockers blog:  “I would love to be one of those people who is all “Hey…  I am going out for a run, yo.” and actually mean it.  LOL”

“I wish I was like those sporty people that do things.”

“OMG I would love to be one of those people that can pull off that look!”

I spent about 40 years wishing I was one of those people.

It was only recently that I have realized that I AM one of those people, but that when I wistfully say those things, what I really meant was that I wished I was thinner.  The mindset change happened in that photo up there.  I always thought I was too fat to kayak, so never dared try out of fear of embarrassment when I sank the thing in front of a beach full of people.

I am not going to lie and say that I don’t want to be thinner, BUT…

I give a shit that I can run, kayak, hike, swim, walk, jump, snorkel, zipline, squat, lunge, bike, and wear cute clothes.

All of these are things that I can do NOW at the size I am.

And regarding making an ass of myself…. I no longer give a shit.  I HAVE sunk my kayak in front of a beach full of people because my kayak got waterlogged on a rough, choppy day.  I literally fall out of my kayak and make a giant splash every time I get out of it.  And then I laugh.  And then the beach people laugh.  And say things like, “You go girl!!  I don’t think I could have gotten into it in the first place.,”  or “How’s the water!??,” or “I love your swimsuit!”

And maybe, just maybe, they will try kayaking someday now too because if that chubby girl was having that much fun, they can too!