Thank you for the warm welcome! My journey into body positivity was not an intentional one, but it has become a passion and a primary focus of mine.

About 6 years ago I was going through the most mentally challenging period of my life. I learned the most influential person I had ever known had stage 3 cancer. He went through treatment and we thought we had it beat. I was also in a failing marriage and no matter how hard I tried, it always seemed to make things worse.

I hit rock bottom one day returning home from a business trip. I had just found out my loved one’s cancer had returned. The tears poured down my cheeks as I passed hundreds of strangers in the airport. All I could think about was getting home to my wife and kids so I could wrap my arms around them.

When I got home, I walked in the door and heard the TV on the the bedroom. I walk into the doorway and my wife and 3yr old son were buried into their electronics. No one even looked up. I dropped my bags, then went to the bathroom, locked myself in, and broke down. Thoughts of hopelessness took over and I didn’t want to live anymore.

I realized that this was a very dangerous mental state to be in and that I needed to make some changes for the sake of my children if nothing else.

I traveled extensively for work and would take the last flight out and the first one home to maximize my time with my family. I would travel to beautiful places like Denver and San Diego, but never made time to explore and enjoy all the amenities life has to offer. I only saw the airport, hotel, and place of business.

My next trip was to Miami and I decided I was going to stay an extra day and see what the beaches in Miami were like. As a twist of fate, the beach I chose was Haulover Beach. It’s a very normal beach by all acounts except for one very exceptional thing, it had a clothing optional section. When I read the sign next to the fence that divides the beach that read, “Beyond this sign, you may encounter nude sunbathers,” my initial thought was that there would be muscular men and model type women having all kinds of fun that I could never.

What I found was exactly the opposite. There were all kinds of people from all age groups and all sizes going about their day at the beach with nothing but smiles and good vibes. I didn’t intend on going nude, but after being there a few minutes and seeing that I was the only one clothed, I felt like an outsider. I decided that life was too short. I stood up, took off my shorts and threw caution to the wind.

It was exhilarating!

To my surprise, no one stared or even noticed from what I could tell. The ocean breeze and sun rays washed over my entire body and it was the most liberating thing I have ever experienced. People were very friendly and I met a couple who told me about AANR, the American Association for Nude Recreation.

It’s an organization that promotes body positivity and respect for others through nonsexual social nudity. I learned that there were clubs all over the US that shared the same values and offered a safe and welcoming atmosphere to experience life in a new and exhilarating way. I learned that it’s not about seeing naked people or being seen naked by other people, it’s about accepting who you are completely and having no shame about it. It also goes hand in hand with accepting others for who they are without judgment.

It’s been life changing for me and I’m compelled to share this gift to others in hopes it brings the same joy to their lives. I’ve introduced many people to the concept of nonsexual social nudity and out of the ones who have tried it, 100% had a positive experience and want to do it again. My favorite group of people whom I have helped are people who have struggled with their body image.

I hope my story resonates with someone here and inspires them to try something out of their comfort zone, in a safe and welcoming atmosphere!

© 2018 The Body Positive