I’m a actor/photographer, and admittedly, I despise being in front of the camera.

Until today.

For the first time in at least 10 years I didn’t look at a picture of my body and cringe. Do you understand how major that is? (Backstory: I gained about 50 pounds after I stopped swimming competitively, and that certainly didn’t do wonders for my self-confidence. To make matters worse, the weight crept on during my senior year of high school, aka. ‘the prime of my life.’ Lovely.)

People reassure me all the time, “You look fine!” or, “What are you even talking about?” It’s just one of those things–that weight wasn’t something I did on purpose; it was something that happened by mistake. I simply wasn’t in control, which is bothersome.

But I have the reigns now. And I’m committed to a lifestyle of intent: achieving the things I have set my mind to, no matter the odds.

So, to anyone reading this that might feel the same way… I get it. And it gets better, if you want it to.

(And of course, Happy 56th, Jamaica! 🇯🇲 #onelove.)