I’m back from sabbatical and reflecting on everything Portugal gave us: the warmest sun, explosions of color, a new, tiny bathing suit for each one of us, fully unplugged time with Adam and Neo, and a slower, simpler pace of life that settled my nervous system (almost) all the way down – I mean, for as much is possible while traveling with a 4-year-old 😉.
One part of the trip that impacted me, and I promised to tell you about was a family-friendly topless beach ( . ) ( . ).
Not everyone was topless — in fact, most weren’t. But the option created this beautiful, unspoken permission to show up exactly as you are and how you want to be. There was a culture of normalcy around bodies–all bodies. Older bodies. Fuller bodies. Wrinkled skin. Cellulite. Curves.
Confidence. No shame. Just…being.
I kept having this question come up that surprised me, “But(t), why?”
Why were only a handful of people topless? Why did it feel so curious to me–even though I’ve been to nude beaches and wasn’t the least bit uncomfortable with it?
After a while, I realized: I wasn’t confused by the nudity. I was interested in the freedom to choose to be topless in a sea of people–who chose it, and what made them decide to.
The answer: They just did it. It wasn’t a big decision to make. No agonizing. It was normal to them and to those who saw them (or didn’t think to notice).
Every day, we shared our part of the beach with a woman Adam and I affectionately called “Hot Mom.” She walked confidently down the beach, top off, not looking for attention. Just existing. Comfortable. Unbothered. It wasn’t about being provocative, It was just about her living life.
And that way of just living extended beyond the beach. I had conversations with people who had chosen slower, simpler lives over more prestigious, higher-paying jobs. We had a two-hour lunch with our 4-year-old and no one rushed us. People weren’t racing through their lives. They were simply in the moment.
If you’re feeling pressure–around your body, your life, or your timeline–I hope this gives you a moment to breathe. You don’t have to be topless on a beach in Portugal to experience this kind of freedom. You just have to give yourself permission to show up as you are.
Want to talk about what it could look and feel like to have freedom from having to play by “the rules”? Click below to schedule time together, or simply comment below! 👇
With love (and maybe still a little sand in my tush)! 💛
xo,
Marisol