Nudity

The naked human form has been seen as artistic and beautiful for centuries.  It was the focus of much art in ancient civilizations and today remains, arguably, one of the most treasured of sights.  As a society, we have constructed clothing of all forms and fashions to cover up skin in every way imaginable, from the skimpiest of bathing suits to the most modest of full-body attires.  Clothing (and lots of it) is a very reasonable thing to have in cold climates, particularly during bitter winters.  At that point, it makes sense to cover the skin.

However, the need to perpetually obscure the human form, the undying urge for modesty in all situations, baffles me to a point.  People are raised with the belief that the naked body is shameful somehow, that it is to be hidden and covered up, restricted by layers of clothing.  Thus children grow up with a fear of public showers and locker rooms, a need to be furtive about their bodies, one that grows into adulthood with them.  In college dormitories, it is sometimes seen as bashful and immodest to be seen naked by one's own roommate.  And yet...where is the problem with such behavior?

It makes perfect sense to be covered and modest in a professional or particularly public setting.  It must be admitted that the human body often becomes a sexual distraction, particularly when the mind is faced with an unpleasant task and would rather wander.  However, there is no reason that nudity should be chastised in private.  It should not be seen as odd or societally inappropriate for an individual to be naked around their friends or in the privacy of their own home.  

There is no reason to be ashamed of the human body.  It is something that all of us possess, in various forms, shapes, and sizes.  There should be no shame of imperfection nor immodesty.  In private, our bodies are our own to do with as we please.  We share our deepest secrets and most intimate desires with our close friends. So why is it so taboo to share something as simple as a view of our bodies?  They are natural and they are comfortable without the tightness and restraint of clothing.  

I'm not one of those people who loves their body to a ridiculous extent.  I encourage acceptance of one's body, but I'm poignantly aware of my own imperfections.  That doesn't stop me from not being ashamed of my naked form.  Over the past few years, I have become increasingly comfortable in my body, if not entirely satisfied with it.  I have found that there is no reason to be ashamed of my naked body in the company of those I trust.

So yes, I am perfectly comfortable being naked in front of my close friends.  For that matter, I am not terribly concerned about being seen naked by most people I know.  I can't say I want a picture of me naked making its way around the internet, nor do I want to show up naked at an inappropriate location or among a large crowd of strangers.  But for the most part, I'm perfectly comfortable being naked.  It's as simple as that.