A funny thing happened on the way to this post. First, I’ve been musing about our topic all weekend. Wondering just what I’d like to “get naked” about because in my mind, any good Naked Week requires a good reveal.
Next Tamara sends her photo, which she had thought was for courage week (our topic for next week.) She suggested that the photo might work for Naked too, and offered this for possible context:
I think it could work in the context of “putting yourself out there; come what may” (Naked)
I think she was without protection, covering or container… just a gal catching catching a ball.
She is right! Actually I think courage and naked share quite a few edges and could even be somewhat dependent on each other! So I could have just taken the photo and never mentioned what happened but this just didn’t sit right for being naked. This week I’m going for full disclosure and full exposure!
January contemplates a more literal kind:
Naked Lines
by January Handl
I have been living
at a place where
sun-bathing in the buff
and skinny-dipping in the pool,
and bathing with others
totally naked
is the norm.
It is so liberating
to feel bracing breezes,
silky warm- water caresses,
on every square inch
of sensory- sensitive skin.
It is utterly refreshing to
decide that the hiding of
our wholeness is exhausting
and freedom lies
in discarding false veils
when we remember
beyond
the
skin.
Today, I went to the public pool
and in the women’s locker room
I saw the sun-graced bodies
with highly contrasted
tan-lines
demarking
which parts of our bodies
are in-decent,
or secret
or private.
And it occurs to me
how much energy,
time and torture
we as a species
have spent-
finding appropriate drapery to
fFlaunt and forget
the very basis of our existence,
our vibrant sexuality
and avenues to procreation
becoming culturally twisted
to the point of numbness.
My wet bathing suit
clinging uncomfortably to my skin
becomes heavier
than I want
to bare.
Yes! How much energy have we spent “becoming culturally twisted to the point of numbness” regarding our bodies or other truths?
We say we treasure honesty yet concoct elaborate ruses to keep our secrets safe. Most of our truths are shared by many others who have joined us in “clinging uncomfortably” to the silent knowing between us.
This week our Bliss Initiative is to break our silence. What places in our lives are calling to be bare? Could it be your bathing suit clad body or a prickly truth you’ve been avoiding? What in your life is calling to get Naked?
What is YOUR good reveal?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tamara and January are here each Monday to help set the mood for the week!
Tamara Magnitsky
My mission is fulfilling a lifelong desire to be a creative professional making a positive difference in the lives of those I encounter. Photographing unique personalities in a fun and relaxed environment. To challenge myself creatively, listen deeply and take a damn good picture.
See Tamara’s photography on her Facebook Page.
January Handl
January Handl is first and always a mother, has been a preschool teacher and parent educator for 25 years. She is currently lives in Aptos California AND simply in awe of existence.
She calls her photo “hot tub bliss” 🙂