Someone told me once to never let on that you’re in trouble. Always smile no matter the pain, no matter the challenge. That, supposedly, sends a message of confidence and strength to others, and they will rally around you and be there when you truly need them.
My trainer thinks my smiling means add more weight and more reps, but I just keep on smiling. I trust that she knows what my limits are, and she pushes me to focus on the end-goal rather than the short term. I don’t need her to hold my hand; I just need to build confidence so I don’t feel weird on those days I go to work out on my own.
Fear of being out in public, all those people staring at me, scrutinizing me, judging me – it’s something I’ve lived with for a very long time. What do I do? Swallow hard, smile, and carry on.