What are you willing to do?

In a piece entitled Nervous Naturist" on her blog, Ladygod1va writes:- "What are you willing to do to follow your belief that; whilst respecting the rights of others you have the right to be nude." The piece is really about the use of the internet to help the cause of naturism, but this can also be a tricky question in every area of life, a real test of one's beliefs.

Well, here is what I did:- Several years ago I decided to end the secrecy surrounding my nude lifestyle, no more hiding BN magazines etc.. I went on country walks with the Single's Outdoor Club for the sheer fun but also to increase my self confidence, doing what for some naturists, is cutting edge stuff, nudity outside of the clubs. This is a key element in the "What are you willing to do" question, building the self confidence, it is easy to hide behind the thickets.

I built a naturist website but then decided a blog would be better, partly to help me organise my thoughts and partly to provide a web address so that people can read fresh items at their own convenience. It also allows me to add an automatic email signature to every email I send, so anyone who does not know I live nude will find out. The world has not ended as a result of them finding out, further boosting my self confidence.

Having discussed things at length, I remain nude when some friends visit. One of these friends would clearly like to join in, but there is "that something" that stops her. It may be the much discussed body image problem or the fact that she works in education, but if we have a warm summer, you never know! I would be delighted if she joined me, she would be my first "convert".

On Saturday, I rode in the London World Naked Bike Ride for the first time and have been busy telling anyone who will listen. It was such a buzz riding nude down Whitehall, past Downing Street and the Police with their machine guns all smiling at us! No arrests, no harassment. The large crowds cheered, waved and shouted encouragement, further building confidence.

The very best bit happened just today. My next door neighbours know I live nude, ever since my "no more secrecy" decision and me telling them of the nude walks. I have always tried to avoid offending them by staying partly screened in the garden. Although they know I am nude, by staying in one small area they can see nothing to offend should they spot me outside. Well today S called over the fence with an offer of a cup of tea. He did not have to and knew that were I to accept, he would see me "full frontal". I did accept so there I was talking face to face. That is a huge step for both of us, it is one thing to be nude with strangers at a resort or even in Whitehall, quite another to be nude for the first time with someone who I count on as a very good but non-naturist friend. Things have moved a long way towards a totally nude lifestyle. I cannot wait.

Now, what to do next.............