We all have high hopes for 2021. I know that I, like many others, was smiling with determination, wine glass in hand in defiance that this year was going to be better than 2020. The only resolution that came to mind, was the realisation that if there was to be a positive change, it had to begin with me. If left to it’s own devices with me sitting on the side lines, the view into the new year doesn’t look too appealing. So, what can I do about it? Well, to be honest, not much other than to own my stuff, to take responsibility for my inaction and actions. Unconsciously, this began yesterday when I posted a “fun” piece.
I had fun. I took a fun image and I engaged with naturists who also took the challenge to have fun. That was the first step. Then, in the afternoon, I returned to work on a naturist story. Well, at least the main characters prefer not wearing clothes. These characters are actually aliens on Earth when the story begins. I know that they will find themselves off planet in short order, and that is about it.
I contacted my eldest grandson and asked if I could name the main characters after him and his girlfriend with the understanding that these characters would mostly be nude. The two of them agreed and I quickly did “search and replace” to substitute the new names while I did a quick edit of the first 6500 words. This is going to be fun for me, a change from the focus on non-naturist fiction that I focused upon for the past three or four months.
This was a first for me, risking a highly positive grandfather-grandson relationship. Likely, there was nothing really at risk other than in my head. I had to face my fear head on. Perhaps, this is something we all need to do, sooner rather than later, when it comes to owning our naturist/nudist persona in the world.
We all have those negative nay-sayer voices in our heads, voices that act as censors. Our fears imprison us and leave us feeling helpless as we watch small opportunities for naturism slip away. Most often, no one has a clue about our desires/needs for being clothing free. And the truth is, most of the planet could care less as they all have their own issues to deal with.
It is in the small things that each of us can begin to live more authentically. For example, you share a living space with someone. Be honest about your desire/need for nudity. It is a conversation that needs to happen. You might be surprised at the response to that honest sharing. If the response is positive, you test boundaries. If the response is negative, you claim your space to be lived your way. In shared areas, wear a housecoat or wrap or whatever. The choice of cover-up tells others that you are naked beneath the material, and that you are honouring their need not to be confronted with that fact.
However, there are other things at play in all of this, especially the need people have to control. The only one a person can control should be themselves. Using power to force a situation, either pro or anti naturism is just plain wrong, and it needs to be dealt with in order to arrive at a less toxic relationship. But, we usually respond to these things with fear, some of it realistic fear, and most of it irrational.
The task, is to be honest with ourselves, to confront our own fears and then risk being authentic striving for the best version of ourselves that lays within each of us. And importantly, do so with a smile and having a bit of fun. Standing outside around a ice-cold firepit in the wee hours of a morning, like the image above, is about fun – safe fun. Find the cracks that are in your protective armour. Dare to risk a small thing. It will be the beginning of a new you.