I loved the punchline in the March 29th "Heart of the City" comic strip. "What's the point of life if you're afraid of getting caught living it."
How appropriate for those of us who worry about people finding out what we like to do in our own time! In his book Sit Down And Shut Up, Brad Warner says, "It's hard to worry what other people might think when you realize their thoughts are just as dopey and meaningless as ours". I think that's the key. If we listen to our hearts, and live our lives like we know we should, we'll be fine!
Showing posts with label Social Nudism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Nudism. Show all posts
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Are we fooling ourselves?
One thing that I've wondered through my foray into nudism is, "Am I fooling myself into thinking nudism is a wholesome activity and that it really brings me peace of mind or this a fringe, slightly crazy activity as those who oppose it claim?" For that matter, are all of us nudists fooling ourselves into thinking that nudism is what we think it is and not what opponents and critics claim it is?
I recently read a book called Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert. In the book the author, a Psychologist, talks about how inaccurate we are when we try to remember the past or imagine the future. It's amazing how inaccurate we are when we try to imagine what an experience will feel like based on a description of the experience.
"... imagination fails to provide us with accurate previews of our emotional futures. ... when we imagine our futures we tend to fill in, leave out, and take little account of how differently we think about the future once we actually get there."
The most accurate method of estimating what something will feel like is to base that estimate on what someone who has experienced the same thing felt like, while they were going through the experience. This is more accurate than trying to imagine what the experience will feel like.
"... when people tell us about their current experiences, they are providing us with the kind of report about their subjective state that is considered the gold standard of happiness measures."
So what should we do when we want to know what an experience will feel like? We should trust in others' experiences!
"... we should give up on remembering and imagining entirely and use other people as surrogates for our future selves."
We tend to think that we would feel differently from how someone else felt during an experience because we are unique people and the other person may be very different from us. However, the other person's experience is still more accurate than trying to imagine it ourselves.
"... the experience of a single randomly selected individual can sometimes provide a better basis for predicting your future experience than your own imagination can."
So how does this relate to nudism? The subject matter in Stumbling on Happiness suggests that we are not fooling ourselves. We have time and again seen or heard how folks who were sceptical before they dove into nudism have absolutely loved nudism once they tried it. Even among those who tried it and stopped many did so because of societal pressures, or some idiot who bothered them, but not because they realized nudism is a weird activity or any such realization.
I don't think I'm going to have doubts about nudism or naturism again. I have experienced it, and that experience is as real as it gets. Someone else's opinion, based on their imagining what nudism is, will never be any more accurate than my experience. The peace and joy that comes from nudism is very, very real! And I know that social nudism is as wholesome as any activity as you can be involved in.
I recently read a book called Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert. In the book the author, a Psychologist, talks about how inaccurate we are when we try to remember the past or imagine the future. It's amazing how inaccurate we are when we try to imagine what an experience will feel like based on a description of the experience.
"... imagination fails to provide us with accurate previews of our emotional futures. ... when we imagine our futures we tend to fill in, leave out, and take little account of how differently we think about the future once we actually get there."
The most accurate method of estimating what something will feel like is to base that estimate on what someone who has experienced the same thing felt like, while they were going through the experience. This is more accurate than trying to imagine what the experience will feel like.
"... when people tell us about their current experiences, they are providing us with the kind of report about their subjective state that is considered the gold standard of happiness measures."
So what should we do when we want to know what an experience will feel like? We should trust in others' experiences!
"... we should give up on remembering and imagining entirely and use other people as surrogates for our future selves."
We tend to think that we would feel differently from how someone else felt during an experience because we are unique people and the other person may be very different from us. However, the other person's experience is still more accurate than trying to imagine it ourselves.
"... the experience of a single randomly selected individual can sometimes provide a better basis for predicting your future experience than your own imagination can."
So how does this relate to nudism? The subject matter in Stumbling on Happiness suggests that we are not fooling ourselves. We have time and again seen or heard how folks who were sceptical before they dove into nudism have absolutely loved nudism once they tried it. Even among those who tried it and stopped many did so because of societal pressures, or some idiot who bothered them, but not because they realized nudism is a weird activity or any such realization.
I don't think I'm going to have doubts about nudism or naturism again. I have experienced it, and that experience is as real as it gets. Someone else's opinion, based on their imagining what nudism is, will never be any more accurate than my experience. The peace and joy that comes from nudism is very, very real! And I know that social nudism is as wholesome as any activity as you can be involved in.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Balancing Act
I haven't been able to make it to the beach the past three weekends and I'm really waiting for this weekend to come around so I can make my way to Black's Beach.
I have often wondered what it is that compels me to get my regular fix of Black's. I get to spend some part of the day nude at home, so I do get a partial fix almost every day, but that hasn't proven very satisfactory. Is social nudism the necessary ingredient? It could be that since my home is an environment that's not fully supportive or accepting of nudism, nudism at home results in relaxation with a hint of tension. Maybe it's the feeling of complete relaxation at the beach that makes it so special. Or maybe it's just the people - being with people who are open-minded and willing to accept you for what you are, warts and all!
It would be wonderful to live in a world where clothes were optional, whether at home, or work, or play. However, we have to balance what we have with what we need. How does one find that balance without driving oneself insane? There's no easy answer to that question. We live in a constantly changing world and requires continuous evaluation of where we are and where we want to go, and a continuous search for the right balance. Just like everything we deal with in life!
I have often wondered what it is that compels me to get my regular fix of Black's. I get to spend some part of the day nude at home, so I do get a partial fix almost every day, but that hasn't proven very satisfactory. Is social nudism the necessary ingredient? It could be that since my home is an environment that's not fully supportive or accepting of nudism, nudism at home results in relaxation with a hint of tension. Maybe it's the feeling of complete relaxation at the beach that makes it so special. Or maybe it's just the people - being with people who are open-minded and willing to accept you for what you are, warts and all!
It would be wonderful to live in a world where clothes were optional, whether at home, or work, or play. However, we have to balance what we have with what we need. How does one find that balance without driving oneself insane? There's no easy answer to that question. We live in a constantly changing world and requires continuous evaluation of where we are and where we want to go, and a continuous search for the right balance. Just like everything we deal with in life!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Social Nudism
The past couple of weeks have seen new angles in my foray into social nudism. Before that, it was something that my wife just didn't accept, and it created conflict between us. The past couple of weeks have been great because there is now acceptance on her part, and I have had a chance to think of my feelings on social nudism.
There's been a wonderful crowd at Black's Beach the past couple of Sundays. In addition, last Sunday I was honored to be part of a wedding. The Black's Beach Bares make their area of the beach very inviting and you feel safe and part of a family when you're there. Being there in a more relaxed frame of mind, I felt more free to chat with folks. I also read my book(s), use the boogie boards the Bares have on hand to ride the waves, body surfed, and just plain relaxed.
Social nudism and home nudism both feel good thanks to the lack of restrictions of clothes. (Saves on cooling costs too! :-) ) Social nudism goes beyond home nudism with the way people perceive each other. Shapes and sizes don't matter. When you talk to someone, you're just talking to them. I don't know how else to describe the openness of my conversations on Black's. The people I've met are wonderful and accepting, and in a short time I already feel like I have a connection to them as fellow human beings. I'm looking forward to many more Sundays at Black's!
There's been a wonderful crowd at Black's Beach the past couple of Sundays. In addition, last Sunday I was honored to be part of a wedding. The Black's Beach Bares make their area of the beach very inviting and you feel safe and part of a family when you're there. Being there in a more relaxed frame of mind, I felt more free to chat with folks. I also read my book(s), use the boogie boards the Bares have on hand to ride the waves, body surfed, and just plain relaxed.
Social nudism and home nudism both feel good thanks to the lack of restrictions of clothes. (Saves on cooling costs too! :-) ) Social nudism goes beyond home nudism with the way people perceive each other. Shapes and sizes don't matter. When you talk to someone, you're just talking to them. I don't know how else to describe the openness of my conversations on Black's. The people I've met are wonderful and accepting, and in a short time I already feel like I have a connection to them as fellow human beings. I'm looking forward to many more Sundays at Black's!
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