Telling Others You’re a Naturist

By Ken and Amy Sunwalker

A little afraid to share your naturist lifestyle with others?  Want to share your feelings about naturism with others, without offending them?  Want to find new naturist friends?  Done incorrectly, this can lead to disaster, but done correctly, this can be easy.  Here’s how to do it right:

First of all, be sure of your feelings.  Decide you “are” a naturist before taking steps to share with others; it’s almost impossible to back out after telling others.  But when you’re sure of your feelings, don’t just announce that you’re a naturist and explain naturist benefits; this will probably just surprise and offend people.

Instead, stick to what you ”believe” and let them decide how much further to take the conversation.

Here is the “Key” sentence - practice and use it:

“Being a naturist, I believe that clothing-free . . .”

So, here are three steps for sharing your naturist lifestyle in an inoffensive way:

1.      Start with a question about their interests, such as:

“What do you enjoy doing?”

“Do you like hiking.”

“Do you like gardening?”

“Do you like swimming?”

“Do you like sunbathing?”

2.      After their answer, state the key sentence (above).

3.      Then explain why you like being a naturist, such as:

“. . . it’s so freeing.”

“. . . it motivates me.”

“. . . it’s so physically healthy.”

“. . . it reduces my stress.”

“. . . it feels wonderful.”

“. . . it fixes my mind.”

“. . . it helps me make close friends.”

“. . . it’s great for my body image.”

“. . . It’s so much fun.”

“. . . it helps me to be open and the real me.”

So, here’s an example of this simple three-step process:

“Do you like hiking?  (Yes, I often hike alone.)  Being a naturist, I believe that clothing-free hiking is so physically healthy and also feels wonderful as the sweat cools my entire body.”

Then, just continue talking as if everything was normal.  This process can be a really good conversation starter about naturism, but only talk about naturism when it comes up naturally.  If they express interest (and only if they express interest), invite them to join you so they don’t miss out.  As Philip Baker explains:

“Many naturists are afraid of the reaction even from family and never tell anyone.  They have to maintain two lives effectively and two sets of friends. . . [Perhaps] the best way to find new . . . friends [is to explain] what they are missing.  So, in recent years I have taken this advice.  Generally, I find people just change the subject – unless they have happened upon a nude beach abroad or turn out to be naturist themselves.” - Philip Baker, https://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/eastbourne-nudists-organise-naturist-trip-to-the-towner-art-gallery-1-8616329