Sexual health is more than just an “annual examination” at the gynecologist, according to the words Today’s Bobbie Thomas.
During a Today segment on intimacy and sexual health with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Hager Bush, Thomas said that “the idea of sexual wellness is a foreign concept to many of us.” She then shared how she regained her sexual health after her husband Michael Marion died aged 42 in December 2020 after a bacterial infection led to organ failure.
“I never thought that after I said ‘I do,’ I would be going out,” said Thomas, who turns 49 on Oct. 23.
“As a mother and a caregiver, and women in general, just busy with work, you put your own needs last,” said Thomas, who had son Miles, now 8, in 2015.
Bobbie Thomas with her late husband Michael Marion. Bobbie Thomas/Instagram
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But it wasn’t until Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman — whose own husband died in 2005 — recommended massage to Thomas that she realized she was “missing the touch.”
“Do you have friends and family who hug you but tuck your hair behind your ear or hold hands?” Thomas asked, adding, “And yes, intimacy. I missed my husband, but I got so good at missing him that I didn’t even realize I needed him.”
Thomas added: “I was nervous about going out on so many levels, but when the butterflies happened and the chemistry happened, I suddenly cared about my underwear fitting. And I remember thinking, ‘When was the last time I actually bought a cute bra?’ ”
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“At first you don’t think about it, all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Oh, I have to get a pedicure.’ You shave your legs every time you shower. It was a big reality check for me. I felt good. I was happy,” she continued. “And it wasn’t just because I liked someone and that’s great. I think I was happy because I haven’t felt so good about myself in a long time.”
Thomas said she realized the importance of sexual health when she went to Medispa for waxing. But, she points out, “This was not just an ordinary medispa.” It was about grooming down there that went way beyond grooming.”
She added: “It was like the universe conspired to help me figure something out. There were so many modern options and treatments available to help someone go from not really feeling like they wanted to be intimate, to wanting to make it a priority.”
Bobbie Thomas.
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
Thomas – who recently revealed she had her first relationship since becoming a widow this year – said that “when intimacy is out of the picture for so long, it can be scary. Frightening. So much insecurity is sometimes tied to how you feel about yourself. How comfortable you are with someone else. Vulnerable on many levels, not just naked. And how you think about yourself. And for some, sex is traumatic. That’s important to recognize.”
This is also the reason why he speaks publicly about his sexual wellness journey. “I also feel it’s important to hear from people like me who have had the opposite experience,” she shared. “I felt empowered. I felt connected to my own body. I was crying. I couldn’t believe how good it felt to be so comfortable with myself. And honestly? Then the sex is good. It’s when you want it. When you’re good with yourself, it’s exciting to share you with someone else.”
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Thomas said that while she doesn’t plan to be like sexual health celebrity Dr. Ruth, “in my next chapter,” she wants to prioritize talking about it. “I know that I feel better when I talk about it with my friends. It feels good to have support and not to feel alone. So let’s talk about it,” she said.
And her first piece of advice for those in her position? “Even if you’re not with someone or even thinking about intimacy, buy the right underwear. You might feel good and be ready to meet someone,” Thomas offered.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education