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Jannica's avatar

Thank you for this Ryan. We’re all on a continuous journey with our incredible bodies. Regarding nudity, it often saddens me how soon (too soon in many cultures) children begin to feel embarrassed of their naked body. In Finland, there is a very healthy attitude towards nudity, which is never considered sexual unless it’s a sexual context. Growing up, summer days and nights are spent naked, children swim naked and amongst family (close and even extended family) the adults will often be naked too on those occasions. Sauna culture contributes positively to this too. Growing up, I saw all my relatives bodies and thought this was completely normal.

Later on in life I had several experiences of being laughed at in school changing rooms etc for being naked, in other countries where I was living. My parents didn’t warn me! I soon learned I can’t do that anymore.

Living in the UK now, where the culture is more conservative and nudity near nonexistent, I am instilling the same healthy attitude in my children towards nudity and bodies that I was lucky enough to acquire in Finland. These cultural differences are so fascinating. My Finnish side is always barefoot inside the house and wherever possible outside too, but here most people will never see their British relatives toes during their lifetime :) Needless to say, we’re a barefoot household! My British husband is slowly being converted too :)

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Teri Leigh 💜's avatar

For ten years, I lived with a man who struggled with anorexia. He hated his body, and treated it as such. He beat it up with long walks, 4 hours of sweaty hot yoga, and little to no nourishment. Everything about his life circled around this self abuse. And he expected me as his wife to support this. Cook only vegetarian, no vegan, oops…I mean raw…

His bones protruded and it didn’t look or feel natural.

He left me to be a celibate monk. Perhaps there his starvation would be considered spiritual fasting. I feel for him still, the demons of body image that control him.

Your journey is an honest one, and evolved sweetly over time. Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed this venture into the opposite of what I lived through my ex.

Btw- I love my body. Yoga helped me get there.

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