I hate my legs - not a huge secret around these parts. More specifically I hate the way my legs look. I know I should be grateful for them - they've carried me through 2 marathons, 2 triathlons, and countless other races. I even went as far as writing them a letter, outlining a truce.
Through thick and thin less thick, I convinced myself that shorts just weren't for me. Jay's old basketball shorts are my exercise shorts of choice, and I have a couple of pair Bermuda shorts and a couple trusty pair of capris when the weather calls for my legs to be exposed.
I accepted this as a result of growing into the over 30 set. Until one day a friend of my mother's gave me a couple pair of mid length shorts. Said friend is in her 50s, and frequently lets us go through her cast-offs before donating them. I love her style and she buys expensive brands so its always fun to see what she has.
Those shorts got me to thinking - how can a woman with children older than me pull of the shorts if I can't? She's in great shape, but has 2 decades on me. (And yes, she does pull them off quite nicely.) I began wondering if my ideas about shorts were just silly notions I got in my head that needed purged.
So...I did what anyone would do - took a twitter poll. The results were overwhelmingly in the "wear whatever you feel comfortable in/rock those shorts."
So...I took the conversation to Facebook. There were a few comments in the "thunder thighs should be covered" camp (for the record, they weren't talking about me but rather large thighs in general) but there were a good portion who said that short lengths depended on too many factors to define.
Finally I took the plunge and wore the shorts...and like a good blogger photo documented.
This pair I wore to the Repeat Boutique 70% off sale. My mother even told me this was a good length short for me.
The night before I wore these to our town's first ghost walk. It was a hot evening and I didn't think I'd survive in a pair of jean capris!
There are several morals to this story, but they all boil down to this: Get over yourself already! Mostly likely the only person obsessed with what you are wearing is you.
Apparently I need frequent reminders of a truth CS Lewis stated long ago: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less."
Do you have a seemingly simple life-lesson you have trouble grasping? Or if you're not in a deep kinda mood, what length shorts do you prefer?
What cute shorts!! That's about the length I like, too. I have one pair of bermuda shorts that I wear all the time (because they're blue jean shorts).
ReplyDeleteI like shorts now much more than I did before I was running. My legs really haven't changed, but running has changed my perspective on my legs. They're running legs!!! Lol.
I don't wear shorts very often, because I don't like to shave as often as I'd need to in order to wear them. But when I do, they're about the length in your last pic. I have shorter ones that I wear to work in the yard or to the beach or something. But when I'm going to be around people I know, I wear the longer ones!
ReplyDeleteIt's way to hottowearpants. Rock the shorts!
ReplyDeleteGo Brooke! I will always be here cheering you on as you grow :) I'm proud of you, and those shorts look GREAT!
ReplyDeleteI used to feel the same way about jeans. Hated them. Didn't wear them until I lost weight. Now? I love them. Go figure ;)
The shorts look great and I think you do look good in them! Rock those legs girl!!
ReplyDeleteI think that's a great length! They're not hoochie, and they're not mom shorts. Although I'm a mom, and I'd wear them! ;)
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