There are two ways that you and are exactly alike, two ways that we are like everyone else on the planet – yep, you guessed it – We are all born and we will all die. How we live life in between those two experiences is uniquely an individual journey. Today’s little blog is to poke at the edges of inquiry as to how do you live all the moments you are graced with between your first breath and your last?

When I came screaming out into this world I actually had something else in common with you – I was born naked!! Yep, I was not wearing the latest fashion, did not have my hair in place, most certainly did not have my make-up on, and I did not put on a happy face just so you could feel good about yanking me out into this cold world. We are all born completely naked, spending the rest of our lives figuring out how to cover up, make up, and mask the amazing vessel we exist in – why???

I can see the people who know me shaking their heads with a half smile on their faces, for they know that I believe nudity is a wonderful thing to embrace as often as possible!! For me, every human is absolutely exquisite when they are shining in their full radiance from the inside out/outside in – they are in that moment divinely present, vulnerable, exposed, and REAL. No coverings, no pretending, no trying to be someone else, no hiding…!! We are all born fully exposed, but sadly before we can even walk, most of us are taught to be ashamed of our bodies, to hide them, mask them in a myriad of accouterments. Oh how this shame sinks deeply in, becoming a daily dose of self abuse.

Now, I want you to think back to when you were really young, for some of us that is definitely further back than for others. When you were a toddler/youth do you remember a time when you danced, sang, played tag, created art, lived in your world of imagination, explored uncharted territory in a nearby park/woods? Sit still with yourself for a few moments; go back into that time, go back into your body – how did it feel? If you were by yourself or with friends your age doing the same thing, I am going to bet you felt GREAT!! You were the belle at the ball, the best singer ever, conquering undiscovered places, creating art that received great admiration, absolutely blissfully enjoying the present moment for all it was without worry, fear, or shame. However, if an adult entered the room you stopped, even though they did not say anything you felt silly and perhaps even a tinge of shame sparked up. Then the older we got the less we “lived fully in our vibrant being”, we continued to expand our shame, our comparison, our acceptance that we were to “act normally” within the confines of society’s expectations.

When I was Activity Director at the nursing home I loved taking the patients out for activities away from the home. Their faces would light up with wonder, joy, and anticipation – just like the children’s faces when I worked at the Daycare and we were out on a field trip. Put these two groups together and oh my, the experiences that would blossom forth filled one with joy. Interesting to me, is that the population of our society we deem as wise, intelligent, successful, and “important” is the mid-ages, not too young, not too old (please note there are cultures who still honor the elderly and the young). I have been blessed to spend time with amazing people from all age groups and in my experience I seriously question our assessment of the prime age.

Most of the “prime age” people I know spend time worrying about their clothes and outer image, they are afraid to sing out loud even in their own home, they definitely do not dance with abandon, rarely smile at a stranger, often scowl, do not know how to really laugh and would never be caught naked outside of their bathroom!! This is a no brainer for me, I would much rather be with the old or young thank you!!

The elderly know how many years they wasted pretending and living life “half-way”, they see down the barrel to the shortness of life; each moment precious, each moment a celebration, a dance, a song, a sweet memory to be cherished and embraced.

The young have not learned or accepted our “play small” game, the game of pretend where we no longer explore new worlds, dance because it brings us joy, laugh until tears of happiness fall, sing so everyone hears, or wake up ready for new experiences with wonder.

Long story short…I would rather dance naked in wild abandon through the field, swim in the cool river water with the clothes I was born in, sing at the top of lungs when my favorite song comes on, laugh full and loud because it feels so good and brings forth joy, hug a friend just because, tell my children I love them as many moments as I can, and remember that every day is another chance to celebrate, to not take for granted, to live all out, for we know not how long we truly have….

I was born this way!! A nude, joyous, content, curious, wiggly, being… I hope you will join me in peeling back the layers of artificial fearful teachings to come home to your natural self.