This is a Nearly FML. It’s an FML, nearly. It got positive votes from the users, by wasn’t approved by our team.

By anonymous - 22/09/2016 00:20 - Canada - Halifax

Today, at 16, I had my first swimming lesson. I have to do it for physiotherapy and really didn't want to because I'm insecure about my body. Today, I also met my instructor. He's a 17-year-old boy. FML
I agree, your life sucks 1 579
You deserved it 162

Top comments

I used to be really self-conscious as well, so much so that I would also avoid swimming. However, I did eventually grow out of it when I got older. My mom used to tell me, which I now see has a lot if truth to it, "people are much more concerned with themselves than they are of you, they really don't care as much as you think." It can sound sad, but the truth is, people filter their world through their ego, unless you directly impact them, they generally won't spend much, if any, time on you. We also see flaws on ourselves as much more prominent than they actually are, what seems significant to you, most people won't notice. This goes for your instructor as well, he's probably much more focused on his job, not on you or what you look like. I think it's important to remember that you can't base your life on other's opinions. It becomes a burden and keeps you from living your life. You're just allowing people to control you, even though in most cases, they're really not seeing what you're seeing, you just think that's what they see.

Not trying to be harsh, but get over it.... I promise, you'll have a lot more fun if you just accept and love yourself, and to hell with what anybody else thinks.

Comments

Not trying to be harsh, but get over it.... I promise, you'll have a lot more fun if you just accept and love yourself, and to hell with what anybody else thinks.

I used to be really self-conscious as well, so much so that I would also avoid swimming. However, I did eventually grow out of it when I got older. My mom used to tell me, which I now see has a lot if truth to it, "people are much more concerned with themselves than they are of you, they really don't care as much as you think." It can sound sad, but the truth is, people filter their world through their ego, unless you directly impact them, they generally won't spend much, if any, time on you. We also see flaws on ourselves as much more prominent than they actually are, what seems significant to you, most people won't notice. This goes for your instructor as well, he's probably much more focused on his job, not on you or what you look like. I think it's important to remember that you can't base your life on other's opinions. It becomes a burden and keeps you from living your life. You're just allowing people to control you, even though in most cases, they're really not seeing what you're seeing, you just think that's what they see.

Jesus im not reading a novel about how self conscious you are

You certainly live up to your name bigdickbag69. 1) My comment contained advice to the poster, not about how self-conscious I am. 2) if you bothered to read it, I specifically said I USED to be self conscious, not anymore though. And 3) If you can't read what is not even a paragraph, it says much more about you than it doesn't about me. So not only are you rude, you're also lazy.

As a guy who used to teach swimming when I was 15-18 I can say that I was way more concerned about how I looked myself as I was sure everyone expected me to be much more fit than I was since I was instructor..

Sounds like the beginning of a teen romance movie to me.

If it is really in the way of your therapy, you can probably get another instructor. That, of course, is assuming that the therapy and swimming lessons are being given by the same facility. I'll tell you what I've heard from every therapist I've had, be they emotional, mental, or physical, "In order to help you, you need to trust that I'm not going to hurt you. For you to trust me, you need to be comfortable with me." If your discomfort with a therapist or instructor is impairing your performance, or having negative effects on your recovery, request a different one! Lack of trust- and comfort- can really damage your recovery. Even if the swimming lessons aren't an official part of your therapy, try talking to management about it- that you're taking the lesson for physical therapy, and you would be more comfortable with someone your gender/older etc. Chances are they'll at least try to accommodate you.