Dear Reverend,
I’ve always been self-conscious about my body. I don’t wear things that show my arms because I think they’re flabby. I love going to the beach, but I hate wearing a revealing bathing suit. I don’t like my legs, so I never wear shorts. I work out and eat healthy, but I still feel like my body is gross. I’m almost 50, and I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin. How do I get over it?
Under Cover (woman, 49)
Dear Under Cover,
Honey, nobody feels 100 percent confident about their body. Even the most conventionally good-looking people have something they’re insecure about. That’s just a fact of being human.
Back in 1995, I was 26 years old and probably in the best shape of my life. Of course, I didn’t know that at the time, and I felt weird about my body. Spencer Tunick, the artist famous for taking photos of large groups of naked people, was coming to town to do a shoot. So I signed up.
When the day of the shoot came, I was petrified. But I did it. And I’ll tell ya what: Being stark naked in public with about 100 other people of all shapes and sizes really snaps you out of any body insecurity.
I’m not suggesting you have to do something that extreme. But when it comes to getting over being self-conscious about your body, sometimes the only way through it is to do it.
Put on a tank top and go out into the world. No one is going to run screaming from the sight of your fabulous arms. Buy yourself a bathing suit that feels comfortable and head to the beach. Slap on some shorts and get those legs out from under cover. (Please wear sunscreen when doing all of these things.)
It will feel weird at first, but the more you do it, the more you’ll realize the only person worried about the way your body looks is you. Once you get past that, you’ll be free as a bird.
Remember: When you’re on your deathbed, you’re not going to be thinking about how glad you are that you covered up your arms all your life. So get out there and show some skin!
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
This article appears in July 15 • 2026.
