Disequilibrium. It’s a thing. With so many certainties in life now in question, all of us are is some sort of free fall, whether we realise it or not. The first big shock to our system, our psyche, was the appearance of Covid19. In early January of 2020, my wife and I made our typical winter getaway to a warm, tropical climate almost on the equator. The first hints of Covid19 in the news seemed to be just another item on the constantly changing news cycles.
Sun, warmth, surf and sand filled our days, I took advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves to experience more seaside and casa nudity than usual. Little did either of us know that we wouldn’t be able to stay for our full three months, that we would be facing lockdowns, stay-in-place orders that would deny us access to the beach, curfews, and the need to be repatriated to our home country. Covid19 shook us more than the strong earthquakes which rocked our casa the previous winter in Ecuador.
Back home, a two-week quarantine followed by strict social distancing became both a trial and a blessing. Being nude in my home and backyard and on little-used country trails increased from the previous norm. Reports from the outside world told me that home nudity was increasing and that memberships in various naturist organisations were increasing.
However, social nudity was close to non-existent, at least for those whom I knew. Social distancing was still in effect. I didn’t have to worry about unexpected visitors appearing in the house while I had abandoned clothing. My nudity became more and more normal. It became a summer with more naturist hikes than I had previously experienced.
And then the USA election happened. The politics in my home country reverberated with the same tensions that split America in half. The extreme right gathered more into their fold. The longer Covid19 went on, the more people began to buy into the conspiracy theories. And almost at the same time, the second wave of Covid19 began to sweep through the world.
Anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers, anti-government, anti-diversity, anti everything that wasn’t the domain of the white, Christian, right wing world took centre stage. The stewing of this toxic presence erupted ten days ago with a real assault on democracy in the name of “freedom.” The assault is far from over. The freedom in question, is the freedom to be oppressive, spewing messages of hate, and denying any but the chosen their rights, their personal freedoms.
Put together, these two elements appearing at the same time were more than enough to turn the world upside down. Now, we have a new wave of disruption occurring at the level of individuals. Dialogue has been replaced with disengaged monologue, or with unreasoned verbal assaults. At the same time we see the dark side of individuals displayed, voices that fill social media in hopes of silencing those who remain hopeful and speak their truths. Social platforms are suspending accounts for sometimes what amounts to trying to appease the angry voices who have gained ascendency. And yet?
There is another side of the scale that is trying to right the balance. From a naturist point of view, I am talking about people who remain standing [or sitting in quiet meditation] who are more sure of themselves, their self-identity, and what is important. And, we have remained hopeful.
And that is the key. Spring will appear following the cold and darkness of winter. Summer will follow the spring. What is now will fade into “what was.” As long as we continue to stand in hope, we will keep our sanity and avoid being dragged into darkness and the mob that embraces all that is negative and hate.
Be the light. Hold your candle of hope, high. Know that as long as you believe in yourself, despite what happens, you will remain free. Viktor Frankl proved this as he survived three years in a Nazi concentration camp, surviving while others around him were swallowed by the angry maw of those dark times. Mind over matter.