Positive body image

Having a positive body image is so important to mental health and your general wellbeing.

Being quite honest about myself, I never had a positive body image about myself until last year (2023).

It is only since April 2024 that I actually understood why this was so. In essence, as I grew up, I never had any PRIDE in myself. At times, I even despised myself. I now understand that was related to Internalised Homophobia.

Through a combination of professional therapy from Psychologists and me also participating in a variety of other workshops, I have become much more comfortable in my own skin, and these days have no problems at all with family, friends and even the general public seeing me with swimmers on at the beach, or me in other outfits/clothes at dance parties, camps or basically anywhere.

For a long time I used to think I loved the beach, but rarely went in the water because of my fair skin and that I would get burnt. But I have come to realise, that was an excuse so I didn't get into my swimmers and be semi-naked in public.

If I didn't like myself, then no one else would either.

So it wasn't only the beach this affected, it was in all facets of my life.

I was ashamed of myself. You can thank poor societal attitudes towards LGBTIQAP+ humans like me for that!

Whilst there are a lot of people who are associated with supporting me in a professional sense to be the very best version of myself, there are two people in particular that I met in early 2023, that have probably had the greatest impact.

One is my good friend Jei Li'Rann, and the other is Dabaco Sunset.

Jei is directly responsible for setting me on the path of having a very positive body image and learning all about my own body too. As a result of this, I now do all sorts of things that I thought I would either never do, or never do again.

This includes all sorts of camping events, as well as 'zoning in' to the mood, which allows me to do all sorts of things, that in the past, I needed alcohol in order to lower my inhibitions.

I haven't drunk alcohol for many years now, and that stopped me going to 'the scene' or other events, because I just didn't fit in with everyone else who was drinking.

But not anymore!

I can do everything I used to do when I had alcohol on board, but totally sober now. This includes socialising, dancing, dance parties, camping, and as I have now conquered, karaoke.

Dabaco is directly responsible for me being able to set what he calls 'intentions'. He/they runs an online group called Queer Qlub.

From setting intentions, I have made some astonishing changes to my life, and now, all of my actions are intentions I set for myself.

In essence, because I now understand so much more about myself, and what ultimately is at the core root of making me happy, everything is now aligned inspired actions!

So as Katy Perry sings in the song "ROAR".....

"I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath

Scared to rock the boat and make a mess

So I sat quietly

Agreed politely

I guess that I forgot I had a choice

I let you push me past the breaking point

I stood for nothing

So I fell for everything

You held me down, but I got up

Already brushing off the dust

You hear my voice, You hear that sound

Like thunder gonna shake the ground

You held me down, but I got up

Get ready 'cause I've had enough

I see it all, I see it now

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter,

dancing through the fire

Cause I am a champion and

You're gonna hear me ROAR

Louder, louder than a lion

Cause I am a champion and

You're gonna hear me ROAR"

So here I am, starting to ROAR...

Me at The Wickham Hotel Brisbane Hustlers Glow Party fundraiser in 2023...

Me doing what I love best at Bargara in 2024...

Me in my swimmers at Bargara in 2024...

Me at Hudsons Circus on stage in Bundaberg in 2024...

Me at GingerNut Farm in 2023...

Me continuing to evolve at The Hummock in Bundaberg, living my very best life in 2024...

Me living my best life now, as I no longer 'stand for nothing'...