Lessons From a Nude Beach

Several years ago on a cruise stop in St. Martin, I tried to convince my traveling companions to visit Orient Beach. I couldn't interest any of them, so I ended up not going. This year my companions suggested a visit to the beach and we piled into a taxi headed for the coast.

Our guide book warned us that we might encounter nudity. It was correct. On the way to the beach we learned there were clothing expected and clothing optional sections of the beach roughly divided by a small stone jetty in the middle of the beach. The north end of the beach looked like most other Caribbean beaches. Approaching the south end revealed progressively more skin until swim suits became the exception.

I visited the beach expecting to satisfy my curiosity but left having learned a few things. My first lesson was that without clothes and other trappings, we are all pretty much the same. We enter the world with nothing and leave with nothing. In between most of us look for ways to decorate our bodies and, by extension, our soul, trying to feel good about ourselves. We dress to impress others and encourage them to think of us as we want. We dress in order to provide a framework at work, at play and on official occasions. Orient Beach at the southern end of the human body and have nothing else. Everyone is equal.

Many people find the idea of stripping in public, courageous and bold. Without clothing, people still go hand in hand to greet one another as if theywere dressed. Nobody has to prove something. Instead of behind clothes, people look exactly as they are. Surprisingly, the games we play with provocative clothing, is not present on Orient Beach.

Older facilities in minority young ones. You can see what they looked like or what will be a time at the end. Maybe you'll see what you look like or what they feared might look like this.

The picture that was settled in my mind the innocent joy of a father and hiseight year old daughter running down the beach together nude. We usually associate such images with shame and sexual abuse. Here it was perfectly normal. I thought of another image, that of the young naked girl running from the napalm of MyLai. Somehow nudity intensifies the expression of joy and terror. Maybe our layers of clothing hide our feelings.

I have often wondered about the bible story of Adam and Eve who lived quite comfortably in their natural state. After sinning, their nudity embarrassed them. How did nudity become embarrassing, at least for our culture? Why is so normal in some indigenous cultures? Perhaps it is another of life's mysteries to add to my list.

 
Life Lab Lessons

·        What do you think about yourself when you are alone with your own skin?

·        Do you judge others by their appearances?

·        What do you imagine lies beneath the surface?

·        How often do you judge or write off people based on how they dress?

·        What is your life really about without your packaging?