02/05/2026
Today I’m making a conscious decision to practise what I encourage my patients to do every day.
Not wait until I feel confident.
Not wait until it feels easy.
Just take the step… scars, and all.
This is the first time I’ve worn a bikini since my ileostomy 5 years ago.
Confidence isn’t the starting point — courage is.
And courage doesn’t always look big or bold.
Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s internal.
Sometimes it’s simply choosing not to sit yourself out.
Here’s what I come back to — both personally & in clinic:
👉 You don’t need to feel 100% confident to take part & try
👉 You don’t need to explain your body to anyone
👉 You don’t have to rush your comfort
Confidence builds from evidence.
From moments where you show yourself that you can do hard, unfamiliar, slightly uncomfortable things.
So if today feels like a stretch in any way —
that’s not a setback, it’s a starting point. You’ve got this!
That’s the work.
Happy Saturday everyone. Maybe you always have the strength to show up & be you!
