AS THE DAY U WERE BORN (AS NAKED)

For most of us, it is probably difficult to remember the last time we werecomfortably naked for a period of time longer than 20 minutes or so. Many of usare only naked for the length of time it takes us to shower or bathe. We quicklydry off and put our clothes or pajamas on, without taking even a moment to enjoythe feeling of the air against our bare skin. Most of us learned that this wasthe way to do things from a young age, and we may not have been exposed toanother way of thinking, but many cultures regard nudity as completelyacceptable, even in somewhat public settings. If you have ever had the goodfortune to assimilate yourself to this way of doing things, you may have foundthe experience liberating enough to allow it to influence the rest of your life. Perhaps you swam topless in Tahiti or took a sauna in Sweden or Finland. In manyAmerican cities, you can find the experience of unselfconscious nudity in aRussian or Korean spa. You may have noticed the lack of vanity in people who arecomfortable with their naked bodies. Old ladies and young girls sit side byside, seemingly without concern for how they appear. We see that it is notnecessary to hide our imperfections; from cellulite to wrinkles, all is acceptedwith equilibrium. We can see the beauty and naturalness of our different bodies,accepting ourselves as just right, just as we are. Being naked in front ofchildren can be discussed with your spouse and a plan developed for your family. Children have their way of letting you know when they are ready for aclothes-only family. If this sounds appealing, you might try carving out some time in your day inwhich you let yourself be naked. You could delay dressing for 10 minutes afteryour shower, gradually increasing the time to 20 minutes or half an hour. Youmight also want to try sleeping naked, a sensual delight that is especiallywonderful in hot summer months. If you have a private garden, a naked sunbathmight be just the thing. Whatever your choice, finding time to be as naked asthe day you were born can awaken feelings of contentment, freedom, andself-love.