Motivations for action vary. Often times what initially nudges us in a direction is forgotten, replaced by infinitely more cerebral and complicated explanations. Maybe it’s unintentional — the most recent information you learn becomes the driving force. Maybe it’s intentional — Just as our social media accounts only post the positive highlights, some more manufactured than others, we want to be seen as a brilliant, insightful trend setter. An example:
Why you started a new diet — the initial reason is that you wanted to lose weight, you read an article about it, and thought, “why not.” That reasoning is later subjugated to a distant memory, replaced with in depth research you conducted, part of a new life philosophy, a way of living with roots in our human physiology, etc….
You can see this cycle repeat in many situations, from the logic behind a new purchase to a new hairstyle. But one of the most common reasons we tend to actually give things a go — it looks like fun. That’s the case with naturism.
Naturism is, at its very bedrock, pure, unadulterated, uninhibited fun. It fills the spirit, it empowers us, it gives us energy, it brings a sense of joy, a smile. Yes, naturism has many more facets to it. But those don’t replace its biggest selling point — it’s fun.
From my earliest days, I was attracted to being nude not as some part of a life philosophy, but simply because I liked how it felt and I liked how it made me feel. It was exhilarating, exciting, fun. I liked walking around nude, experiencing clothes free physical sensations, foreign to me until then. I liked catching a glimpse of myself in a passing mirror — “wow, look at me!” It was just fun.
I feel like, too often, the naturist community blows right past the joy aspects of being nude. We get lost in discussions of what can be very tedious topics such as naturist v nudist, pubic hair choices, and an aging population for example. Some topics are heavier such as body image, naturist discrimination, and health issues. They are all completely valid, and needed discussions for the viability of our community. But they can be overwhelming to the “naturist curious” that they blot out the basics. They can also disenfranchise the long time nudist, pushing them to forget what drew them to going naked in the first place — it’s fun!
Remember that feeling of excitement, joy, and near giddiness? I sure hope you do. I hope you feel it every time. If not, seek it out. Embrace it. Hold on to it. Don’t let it get pushed aside and forgotten. Its the fuel that keeps your naturist engine running.
For me, it is less about being fun and more about being comfortable. I simply find clothing restrictive and uncomfortable.
Oh yes, I remember the thrill of getting my clothes off right back to what’s now 60 years ago. Of course as a child in London I’d never heard of naturism/nudism, and it wouldn’t be until the internet connected me to others some 30 years ago (anyone else remember Compuserve?) that I realised I wasn’t slightly weird in wanting to be naked as often as I could.
I still get that enjoyment from getting out of clothes whenever and wherever. And thanks to someone’s blog-post a few months ago I shifted my paradigm - I am not a clothed person who likes getting naked, I’m a naked person who has to wear clothes too often!