Why I Stopped Waiting for the ‘Perfect Body’ and Started Living

For most of my life, I told myself I would start living fully once I looked a certain way. I would book the trip, wear the shorts, go to the beach, or even let myself relax only after I hit a number on the scale or built the body I thought I needed. Until then, everything felt like a waiting game.

The problem was that “perfect” never came. Every time I got closer, I found something new to fix. My body was always almost there, which meant my life was always on hold.

One day, I realized I had wasted more time than I could count waiting to feel worthy. I had skipped vacations, avoided pools, stayed covered up in ninety-degree heat, and turned down chances to just enjoy myself. Not because anyone told me I could not live, but because I kept believing I had to earn it by looking a certain way.

So, I stopped. Not because I suddenly loved every inch of my body, but because I finally understood that if I kept waiting for perfect, I would wait forever.

That does not mean I never doubt myself. I still catch my reflection some mornings and think, “Maybe I should skip the pool today.” I still notice when my stomach folds in a chair or when a photo catches me at an angle I do not like. Those thoughts show up, but they do not get to decide whether I live my life anymore.

I started small. I let myself sit shirtless in my backyard without pulling at my stomach or checking for the “right angle.” I walked outside in clothes that felt good instead of ones designed to hide everything. I stopped punishing myself for how my body looked and started appreciating what it let me do.

Something unexpected happened. The more I lived, the more I cared for my body out of respect instead of punishment. My workouts stopped being about shrinking or sculpting and became about feeling strong. My meals became about fueling myself instead of earning some imaginary reward. And most importantly, I stopped skipping the moments that make life worth living.

If you have been waiting for the perfect body before you really start living, take this as a sign. Stop waiting. Start showing up for yourself now, exactly as you are.

I share stories like this every week because I know how hard it is to stop hiding and start living. If you want to hear more, along with tips and confidence tools, sign up for weekly nudist and body confidence stories here.