Kirsten Bosly from Perth, Australia, went to the beach with her family not long ago, but instead of having fun, she felt uneasy and unsafe. When she wore a plus-size bathing suit, she felt weak, embarrassed, and full of self-conscious thoughts. The day, which should have been full of joy and connection, turned into a silent fight with how she looked. She felt small, like everyone was watching her, and she kept comparing herself to others and doubting herself.
But everything changed.
Kirsten had a moment of clarity that altered how she saw herself and influenced thousands of people online. When she arrived home that day, she didn’t keep it all to herself. Instead, she went to her computer and told everyone what had happened. What came out was real, honest, and easy to relate to.
She said, “Today is the start of something new for me.” “I haven’t liked how my body looks in a long time.” It was awful. I didn’t like it. Not a fan. I wanted it to change so badly. I wanted it to be smaller, leaner, and not “fat.” She talked about how she had been harsh to her body by blaming it for things and punished it mentally and emotionally. “I’ve used it and abused it,” she claimed. “I’ve been so ashamed of its wobbles and dimples, as if they are what make me who I am.”
She remembered seeing a meme that read, “Take pictures with your kids because when you’re gone, the pictures will be all they have left.” The statement really hit home for her. She realized that she had been avoiding images for years, not because she didn’t love her family, but because she didn’t want to see herself in them. She had erased herself from her own memories because she felt embarrassed.
“Not anymore!” she said. I’m sick of being ashamed of my physique. It’s been there for me for 41 years. I let go today.
She actually meant what she said. Kirsten asked her boyfriend, whom she nicknames “The Pants,” to take a picture of her and their kids that day at the beach. She didn’t wear a cover-up, board shorts, or a towel to cover up, and she didn’t use any filters. There was just her, her kids, and a camera. She said, “I stopped hating and resenting my body and chose to enjoy it for what it is: my body.” ” When I look at this image, I’m struck by how happy we are together. It’s quite good.
For the first time in a long time, Kirsten felt free. Not having to deal with the heavy burden of shame, comparison, or false hopes. She didn’t just recognize she needed to love herself; she also needed to get back the happiness, presence, and memories that she almost lost.
Later, Kirsten penned a heartfelt letter to the Today Show, hoping that others would understand what she had been through. “I was on the beach, freaking out, when I realized I was the only one who was judging me,” she added. “Nobody cared about me, and the only thing that kept me from letting go and fully accepting myself was a bag full of problems that I had made and chosen to carry around.”
She said, “Everyone should feel good about themselves and have fun with their family and friends!” These statements are forceful but straightforward.
Kirsten wants her story to help other individuals who are sad and ashamed right now. She wants people to realize that letting go doesn’t imply giving up; it means letting go of the happiness that is already there. Her story is a reminder that life doesn’t wait for you to be “perfect,” smaller, or younger. It’s happening right now. The best way to honor it is to be there fully, just as you are.