Changing room drama

It has to be my first time experiencing changing room drama. 

I like to take a cold shower after the hour-long sweaty yoga, then nicely put almond oil all over my body in front of the mirror. Yes, I am very comfortable about my body, and about being naked everywhere that's allowed. Nobody is perfect, yes, I also grew up seeing only limited white beauty standards with specific female body shapes acceptable, but it didn't affect me as I have something much stronger inside to hold on to. 

I take no shame in my imperfect body, a body in the 40s that gave birth to two children, and I take no shame in walking around with my imperfect body uncovered. Plus, I have been seeing my mom naked growing up; she is just a happy-go-lucky, big-nerved, careless lady in that way. She also grew up with no specific shame or indoctrinated sin that targeted her body. And I am proudly passing this tradition to my daughter and son. Most of the time, I am also just a happy-go-lucky, big-nerved, careless lady who grabs any chance to strip off her clothing.

I was just putting on oil, lightly massaging my skin, doing a little self-care between my morning and afternoon work. Minding my own business. This Indian lady in her 50s, with an American accent, she loudly complained to her acquaintance, "Gosh, I love these little curtained dressing rooms, or else there are these butts all over your face!" 

"Did she mean me?" A thought crossed my mind. Meh, who cares, maybe I was that "butt all over her face"?... But the room is so empty and I'm just standing still in front of the mirror! Meh, who cares.

I was still taking my time, ensuring I moisturized and massaged each part of my body, diligently doing my little self-care. I bet she could see my feet under the curtain of her lovely little dressing room. She finished and barged out, slamming the curtain so hard that it hit my face...

Well, it didn't affect me at all. But this lady may need to chill out a little bit, people in public usually don't make such big movements. I think she was eating herself up with some sort of weird anger or feelings towards me? How strange that is, right? You being you at that space and time could affect people in such a significant way. The choice was not mine though, it was hers. She allowed herself to be affected by the sight of me. 

Why are you so cruel to yourself, then? Life itself is not hard enough? Why ask for more trouble? Couldn't you just let me exist in my own way that is shaped by my childhood and adulthood experiences, the books I've read, the movies I've watched, the music I've listened to and played, the memorable and beautiful encounters I've had with people who ran into my life, the places I've visited, the worlds I've imagined, and the emotions I've felt, and allow me to just mind my own business? Why so harsh on yourself?

As I was dropping Raj off at his office, I jokingly told him about the incident. 

"You should reply to her, 'At least I've got a cute ass!' A cute ass on her face!"

"What?! Lol, I never react to such incidents; it's so silly and unnecessary... Unless, I am protecting someone else..."

"You have no idea how hot you looked in that backless tiny top. With your back all red and sweaty, when you were twisting your spin, wow..."

"Errr...." 

"Now I need to update your dresses to backless ones. Let me search and find some good brands!"

"Errr, okay...."