I have to admit it, I am an addict. Do they have a chapter of addictions anonymous for naturists? When I go without nudity, I become testy and moody. It doesn’t matter that I sleep nude all the time, I can’t even begin to count those hours as nude time. I realise that this is not the same for everyone claiming and believing themselves to be nudists or naturists. For some, that might be the ultimate experience when it comes to what is possible.
Contrary what many say, naturism is as much, if not more a state of mind than it is a state of body. Look at it from the opposite POV – the sense of feeling clothing free is not limited to those who are nude. When a person is compelled to wear layers of clothing, to wear shorts and a tee shirt feels absolutely delicious and scandalous. When a person is nude 24/7, there is an equally delicious feeling wearing a piece of jewellery or garment that caresses like silk. We are confusing beings where black and white becomes a kaleidoscope of colours that seem to constantly shift. The only thing we can know for certain is what we feel, and even that is understood through a filter.
With that said, I want to return to my feeling of being an addict. As with any addiction, there are withdrawal symptoms. It becomes quite noticeable to others in my life. My wife can tell when I haven’t had enough nude time and tries to make time and space for me to release that pressure. Of course, when we go visiting for an extended time, it is impossible to fit nude time in. My mind tells me that I just need to suck it up and deal with it. I can always be nude when I return home. I tell that to myself with a firm belief that I can navigate through these clothing obligatory times. But like any addict, I lie to myself and find myself sneaking a quick fix of nudity. I sneak in these moments risking being caught.
The two images here today are real examples of taking risks because of addictive need when real life conditions make nudity pretty well forbidden. Simply taking the risk, even if for less than a minute, acts like a quick fix. However, like all addictions, risking quick fixes can backfire. I’ve been lucky … so far.
Now, it’s your turn. Do you take risks because of a sense of addiction, because the need seems to press on you? Does your need for nudity increase as time passes? Does nudity become an obsession?