Get over it and Escape

“You’ll get used to wearing clothes,” they say.  Well yes, I’d probably get used to anything, but is constant clothing actually beneficial? Can it be harmful? Maybe clothing is something that should be done only in moderation? There are of course the superficial differences, but as a longer time nude will show, if one just takes note, the restrictions coming from clothing have far greater negative and even damaging effects.

Examples of Greater Deeper Effects:

Most obviously, just throwing off clothing reveals an immediate release, relief, or liberation, but I’m saying that the effect of clothing is deeper than that.

In constant clothing, health, psychological and spiritual benefits, all three, are lost in an artificial norm. There is a disassociation from our essence, the base, our very foundation. One needs to be in touch with one’s grounded essence to function better. As examples, a short meditation, or a deep breath during the day, being and in the moment are known health aides. Try taking a Ben Franklin air bath.  It is certain, clothing disassociates us.

One example is armor. To strip off the costume armor, the “ready for war protection” that society imposes, is healthy. We need a break from competition, strife, or the idea that we have to be ready to fight in this dog eat dog world. There has to be an unwinding.

There is also an immensely impactful trap of living within clothing as a coverup. Not facing fears, to not inwardly integrate, is unhealthy and inner growth is frustrated. One must be brave enough to put one’s self out there authentically, to stand naked. To hide behind a facade is dishonest to others, as well as to oneself.

Experiencing the lack of social armor is to trust in the environment and be open to others. Being socially naked often leads to more trust. In nature, it may heighten trust in one’s God for protection and with that follows a sense of appreciation. Armor is metaphorically stiff, tight, confining, it goes along with a stiff uptight psychology. Just think about how the difference feels. I grew up under the roof of a career solder and watched his change as he retired, no longer having a reason for the stringency of his tight former life. I saw him smile, strip and dive into his new swimming pool to initiate it. That was a very big moment.

Roles enforced by clothing are ingrained traps. Our roles are a made-up identity and security, whether they are basic social tools for multiple uses, practical, or they are someway working out for an individual. However, at some time, we have to step out of them for perspective.

They say that clothes “make the man,” “dress for success,” “be proud of your uniform.” Yes, that seems to have an effect, belief is powerful. It is a very old trick, or you may say tool to gather wealth and power, a statement, a facade. I’m still often seeing a little boy with a beach towel tied around his neck, thinking that he is a super hero. Clothing creates an illusion. We are more than what makes us proud.

Identifying with clothing’s sense of self, in various degrees, can encase shame and fear where it putrefies. It disrupts true inner confidence.  It becomes a catalyst, or crutch. Playing the game is one thing, maybe survival, but stepping out of the identity is to know something greater. Stripping away to our basic nature and knowing life as that, changes perspectives and liberates.

Clothing is a box and one needs to get out of the box or be confined in it, a victim, a tool for others, in ignorance and a false sense of reality. The box can become a safe place, stifling the experience of living a life and on the other hand, isn’t confinement and restriction a punishment?

The experience of being nude, particularly in nature and then coming back to social convention and society’s constructs with its pressures and stress is evident. Denying that this experience exists, or diminishing it, is to simply be out of touch.  The contrast is striking.

Okay, this is the third in a series of thoughts that I wrote down quite a while back. I thought I’d just throw this one in. There will be some time coming for me to post and I’ve got two stories to finish, just for starters.

 I am on the forum of FreeRangeNaturism.com often, if you would like to converse.

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