Well I definitely had a busy summer. Although I really just worked the entire time, I got the "employee of the month" title, and I was one of the top servers throughout the summer. After all of that I go to GNI only to receive the Natural Man Award. I can't say how much of an honor it is to receive this award. As soon as I got home I told everyone about it, although they weren't as excited as I was, they lived it vicariously through me I'm sure. After I received the award before camp ended, many members came up to me and thanked me for all of my hard work. I was really surprised by this notion of hard work, because I never perceived any of this as "work." I never think of writing this blog, talking to the community, or finding ways to make naturism more accessible as work. This is my lifestyle and who I am I just want it to continue, so all of this "work" really does not feel like work. It just something that I enjoy doing. I am not really passionate about many social issues, so I am happy I found something that I enjoy being so active and involved in.
As for writing in the blog, many of you know that I do not update as much anymore, primarily because of time, but because I only write when I have something to say about naturism. I want this blog to become more active and a platform for fresh ideas about getting people involved with naturism, so I am going to bring my friend Mike on to write about his perspective about naturism and that can give me some more ideas to write about, so this can become a more active blog.
I have taken a short break from being a Naturist Activist it was a nice break, but now I feel like I am ready to do what I enjoy doing.
Stay Naked,
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
????
Ok I KNOW I have updated since April. This has happened before where I make a post and the thing doesn't end up posting. Oh well. My apologies for the large gap in posts, I should keep on it more diligently. Recently I have lost my drive for getting people involved with naturism. I just feel like the current methodology is cult like and I'm not trying to show people a new, better way of life I'm just trying to show them a positive alternative from their usual day to day lives. I've just felt like Naturism has done so much for me that I felt that I should give back to the community in some way shape or form, but with the recent decline in the economy,
I feel that my efforts should be shifted to keep members that are already in the community to continue to support their local clubs or organizations they belong to. I noticed that, for example, the GNI gathering went up in cost this year, which doesn't surprise me it was bound to happen, but with the economy the way that it is I get worried that membership will decline because people just can't afford to do these things. I have met so many people that want to be apart of GNI, but can't afford it that I've been trying to come up with ways, in whatever spare time I have left, to support the organization so that more people can come enjoy what GNI has to offer that normally couldn't. Now how would a struggling college student do that? You might ask, well my response is I'm working on it. I've been throwing some ideas around that i will hopefully have put together soon, before my life gets taken over with school again. Until then ....
Stay Naked
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
I feel that my efforts should be shifted to keep members that are already in the community to continue to support their local clubs or organizations they belong to. I noticed that, for example, the GNI gathering went up in cost this year, which doesn't surprise me it was bound to happen, but with the economy the way that it is I get worried that membership will decline because people just can't afford to do these things. I have met so many people that want to be apart of GNI, but can't afford it that I've been trying to come up with ways, in whatever spare time I have left, to support the organization so that more people can come enjoy what GNI has to offer that normally couldn't. Now how would a struggling college student do that? You might ask, well my response is I'm working on it. I've been throwing some ideas around that i will hopefully have put together soon, before my life gets taken over with school again. Until then ....
Stay Naked
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
Friday, April 24, 2009
Naturist culture vs. Naturist clubs
Ok, so in the month of me not blogging I have actually been putting together something that I want to eventually turn into a workshop. I want to title this "the future of Naturism" and basically inform people of why I think young people are not getting involved with naturism. I have basically described my theories on this subject throughout the life of this blog, but I want to take all of my theories and basically wrap it up into something that can be used to help the community.
The entire premise of the workshop will be centered around this idea of the generation gap. Each generation has a few characteristics that the other one lacks. The problem from here is that even people that are one generation apart have a hard time seeing each others prospective. Now let's look at how Naturism fits into all of this.
The people that basically founded Naturism in this culture were of the Builders and the Baby Boomer generations. Those generations are very centered around conformity (Builders) and involvement (Baby Boomers) meaning they are more inclined to join a club for cultural identification. Whereas the characteristics of Generation X and Y are informality (X) and sociability (Y) meaning they do not really need to be a card carrying member of a club for means of cultural identification. Generation x and Y are also techno-literate (X) and techno-savvy (Y), which could equate that members of those cultures can culturally identify with people from their generation through technology and be satisfied with that kind of cultural identification. This would mean that a member of generation Y will most likely be satisfied with identifying themselves as a Naturist and not have ever been to a resort or belong to a club, but be members of clothesfree.com, facebook groups, write blogs, etc.
What does that mean for the culture? It means Naturism needs to be this evolving concept so future generations can take it and make it their own. Right now nude socialization that occurs in the real world are still centered around the concept of being a "card carrying Nudist," and my generation says "why do we need labels?" I believe that we need to slowly change the culture so it is not centered around where your home club is, but how the culture plays into your life.
So this is the premise of my workshop. I hope it can actually turn into something productive and not just an idea that exists in my head.
Stay Naked
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
The entire premise of the workshop will be centered around this idea of the generation gap. Each generation has a few characteristics that the other one lacks. The problem from here is that even people that are one generation apart have a hard time seeing each others prospective. Now let's look at how Naturism fits into all of this.
The people that basically founded Naturism in this culture were of the Builders and the Baby Boomer generations. Those generations are very centered around conformity (Builders) and involvement (Baby Boomers) meaning they are more inclined to join a club for cultural identification. Whereas the characteristics of Generation X and Y are informality (X) and sociability (Y) meaning they do not really need to be a card carrying member of a club for means of cultural identification. Generation x and Y are also techno-literate (X) and techno-savvy (Y), which could equate that members of those cultures can culturally identify with people from their generation through technology and be satisfied with that kind of cultural identification. This would mean that a member of generation Y will most likely be satisfied with identifying themselves as a Naturist and not have ever been to a resort or belong to a club, but be members of clothesfree.com, facebook groups, write blogs, etc.
What does that mean for the culture? It means Naturism needs to be this evolving concept so future generations can take it and make it their own. Right now nude socialization that occurs in the real world are still centered around the concept of being a "card carrying Nudist," and my generation says "why do we need labels?" I believe that we need to slowly change the culture so it is not centered around where your home club is, but how the culture plays into your life.
So this is the premise of my workshop. I hope it can actually turn into something productive and not just an idea that exists in my head.
Stay Naked
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Interpreter Training Program eats my LIFE!!!
One of the classes I am taking this semester is called "multicultural issues in interpreting." I find this class very interesting because I am always analyzing people, culture, and how I fit into the mess. In this class I am personally learning about cultural identity. The class really discusses how various cultures communicate with each other, I usually strive to get more out of a class t than what is on the syllabus.
It's through this class I am finding my cultural identity. I may have said this in previous blogs or people may have heard me say it at one point or another if they know me, that I am Naturist first and Gay second. Meaning I feel like I relate to Naturist culture more than Gay culture which can seem funny to my textile friends that do not get the opportunity to see me in a Naturist environment. I have recently realized that in a gay bar I'm usually found in the gross hole in the wall bars or the bars that are not on Halsted. This also includes straight bars which I seem to be spending a majority of my time at as of recent. The point is that even in gay culture I still feel as if I'm on the outside looking in. This was the first clue to my realization of my cultural ties to Naturism.
The second indicator was my progression of coming out. I realized I was a Naturist about a year before I realized I was Gay. My idea of a nice vacation is being at a Naturist resort or being at GNI, not Gay days at Disney, or southern decadence in New Orleans, although both would be fun, I won't sacrifice my naked time :-). This realization calms my constant feeling of not really ever fitting in.
One point I would like to express in this self-realization is why do we do what we do and why do we feel the way feel? I guess I am always asking the question why and I believe people should walk through their lives not only just asking that question, but demanding to find answers to that question.
Stay naked
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
It's through this class I am finding my cultural identity. I may have said this in previous blogs or people may have heard me say it at one point or another if they know me, that I am Naturist first and Gay second. Meaning I feel like I relate to Naturist culture more than Gay culture which can seem funny to my textile friends that do not get the opportunity to see me in a Naturist environment. I have recently realized that in a gay bar I'm usually found in the gross hole in the wall bars or the bars that are not on Halsted. This also includes straight bars which I seem to be spending a majority of my time at as of recent. The point is that even in gay culture I still feel as if I'm on the outside looking in. This was the first clue to my realization of my cultural ties to Naturism.
The second indicator was my progression of coming out. I realized I was a Naturist about a year before I realized I was Gay. My idea of a nice vacation is being at a Naturist resort or being at GNI, not Gay days at Disney, or southern decadence in New Orleans, although both would be fun, I won't sacrifice my naked time :-). This realization calms my constant feeling of not really ever fitting in.
One point I would like to express in this self-realization is why do we do what we do and why do we feel the way feel? I guess I am always asking the question why and I believe people should walk through their lives not only just asking that question, but demanding to find answers to that question.
Stay naked
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Wow
I could have swore that I updated more, but apparently I was wrong. Since I last updated I had a nice few weeks off from school, I passed all my classes, and I had a nice time celebrating the holidays with friends and family. For some reason my naturists friends in chicago haven't really been organizing anything, so I haven't seen any of them in a while, unless I just happen to see them out.
Currently right now I'm taking a January-term class that discusses religious interpreting. I just got done with a very interesting reading on how younger people aren't joining churches and what churches are doing to get younger members. This made me think of the "naturist problem" and I started to think different things that the community can do as a whole to get new people to join.
I think a major problem is creating an environment that is suitable for multiple generations. In the reading I just finished, someone asked a congregation "how many of you have grandchildren?" and people raised their hands, then they asked "how many of you would give your lives for your grandchildren?" and they all kept their hands up, then they asked "how many of you would give up their music for their children?" I think that is very profound because everyone seems to want to get younger people in their congregation, groups, or clubs but are not willing to make changes to make younger people feel welcome.
Now I'm not saying to change the music in the disco to current top 40's dance music every night of the gathering, that would be AWFUL, but what I am saying is that we as a community should make people feel welcome. I have always said and I still stand by it today that the GNI gathering has everything for every generation. People in my generation LOVE the music that is played in the disco every night. I know that they would love all the shows, social hours, and cabin parties as well GNI has done a marvelous job in creating a comfortable environment for everyone. The only thing is that nobody really knows about it, that's why it's so important for the members of GNI to tell their friends that have an interest in Naturism to tell them about GNI even if they are straight, because every straight person has gay friends and out of those friends knows someone that is always naked.
It's kind of interesting because new years almost doesn't have any meaning to be, because my year is pretty much based around GNI. I love this organization and I want to see it grow and thrive.
Stay Naked
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
Currently right now I'm taking a January-term class that discusses religious interpreting. I just got done with a very interesting reading on how younger people aren't joining churches and what churches are doing to get younger members. This made me think of the "naturist problem" and I started to think different things that the community can do as a whole to get new people to join.
I think a major problem is creating an environment that is suitable for multiple generations. In the reading I just finished, someone asked a congregation "how many of you have grandchildren?" and people raised their hands, then they asked "how many of you would give your lives for your grandchildren?" and they all kept their hands up, then they asked "how many of you would give up their music for their children?" I think that is very profound because everyone seems to want to get younger people in their congregation, groups, or clubs but are not willing to make changes to make younger people feel welcome.
Now I'm not saying to change the music in the disco to current top 40's dance music every night of the gathering, that would be AWFUL, but what I am saying is that we as a community should make people feel welcome. I have always said and I still stand by it today that the GNI gathering has everything for every generation. People in my generation LOVE the music that is played in the disco every night. I know that they would love all the shows, social hours, and cabin parties as well GNI has done a marvelous job in creating a comfortable environment for everyone. The only thing is that nobody really knows about it, that's why it's so important for the members of GNI to tell their friends that have an interest in Naturism to tell them about GNI even if they are straight, because every straight person has gay friends and out of those friends knows someone that is always naked.
It's kind of interesting because new years almost doesn't have any meaning to be, because my year is pretty much based around GNI. I love this organization and I want to see it grow and thrive.
Stay Naked
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
DONE WITH SCHOOL!
Now that I'm done with school and have had my time to "de-stress" from the semester, I actually can actually think about topics not related to school. It makes me feel almost normal what ever that is. I was eating dinner tonight with my friend and he was telling me about how he met someone last weekend that I almost ended up dating. The topic came up as to why I never dated this individual and the reason being was because he couldn't deal with the fact of me being a naturist. He then started to talk about how his friends at work know that I'm a naturist and how they make jokes about it from time to time. Hearing that doesn't bother me one bit, but it does intrigue me as to why that reaction. I think it's because since I really don't see it as a odd lifestyle I really can't empathize with his coworkers.
The one thing I always here is "I could never do it," and I just think it's absurd that people have that mentality, especially when someone tells me that they love trying new things and have an adventurous personality. I always love to try new things and have new life experiences and for someone to limit what they want to experience just seems odd to me. What is stopping them from trying "it?" Are they afraid that they might actually enjoy doing it? It's fine if they don't I know people that have tried naturism and decided it wasn't for them. I've been to a number of different churches and found the social culture to be similar to that of naturism, and as many times as I go and as many different churches that I go to I just never feel like I fit in to that world, like it just isn't for me. I was at a church this past Sunday and a woman was talking about how she can't understand why the church isn't filled every sunday and if people came they would come every sunday. As I heard this the first thing I thought of was "I've heard this before," and as I was listening to her say this I realized that sometimes people just aren't into the same activities as other people are.
Just before you are going to think that I'm negating myself, let me finish. Just because going to church "isn't my thing," doesn't mean that I won't stop going to church altogether. There is a lot to be said about being out of your element and it makes you think what is important to you and not important to you. I love learning and experiencing new things, I say go out and do something that you wouldn't ordinarily do, you just might learn something new about yourself.
Stay Naked
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
The one thing I always here is "I could never do it," and I just think it's absurd that people have that mentality, especially when someone tells me that they love trying new things and have an adventurous personality. I always love to try new things and have new life experiences and for someone to limit what they want to experience just seems odd to me. What is stopping them from trying "it?" Are they afraid that they might actually enjoy doing it? It's fine if they don't I know people that have tried naturism and decided it wasn't for them. I've been to a number of different churches and found the social culture to be similar to that of naturism, and as many times as I go and as many different churches that I go to I just never feel like I fit in to that world, like it just isn't for me. I was at a church this past Sunday and a woman was talking about how she can't understand why the church isn't filled every sunday and if people came they would come every sunday. As I heard this the first thing I thought of was "I've heard this before," and as I was listening to her say this I realized that sometimes people just aren't into the same activities as other people are.
Just before you are going to think that I'm negating myself, let me finish. Just because going to church "isn't my thing," doesn't mean that I won't stop going to church altogether. There is a lot to be said about being out of your element and it makes you think what is important to you and not important to you. I love learning and experiencing new things, I say go out and do something that you wouldn't ordinarily do, you just might learn something new about yourself.
Stay Naked
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
Thursday, November 20, 2008
School is eating me alive!
Due dates, research projects, and Interpreting the spoken/unspoken word has lead me to drinking. I don't drink alone so while I was at the bar I was people watching and living in gayville USA I get a pretty good perspective on superficiality. Sometimes I think it's funny how we all compete with each other in trying to look better than the other peson. I always thought the older I become it won't be that important to look a certain way to impress people, but it's something I see in a lot of people of all ages.
It's not just the obsession with what clothes one is wearing that sort of bothers me, but how they all must be this thin muscular thing to be attractive and wanted and the thing that bothers me the most is that I constantly find myself caught up in this cultural norm. It always makes me giggle just a little bit because I can take the time to actually get ready and look nice, I'll go out to the bar, and nobody will talk to me. It's when I don't really care what I look like when people come up and introduce themselves to me.
It's this need to be visually attractive that prevents people from wanting to be involved with naturism. Since we never feel like we are good enough people tend to think that if they have no real qualities to make them attractive. When really the truth is the reason why people fall in love with other people is because of the personality that shines through, not the label that is trying to cover up their "flaws." We should stop caring what others think of us and just live and enjoy life.
Stay Naked,
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
It's not just the obsession with what clothes one is wearing that sort of bothers me, but how they all must be this thin muscular thing to be attractive and wanted and the thing that bothers me the most is that I constantly find myself caught up in this cultural norm. It always makes me giggle just a little bit because I can take the time to actually get ready and look nice, I'll go out to the bar, and nobody will talk to me. It's when I don't really care what I look like when people come up and introduce themselves to me.
It's this need to be visually attractive that prevents people from wanting to be involved with naturism. Since we never feel like we are good enough people tend to think that if they have no real qualities to make them attractive. When really the truth is the reason why people fall in love with other people is because of the personality that shines through, not the label that is trying to cover up their "flaws." We should stop caring what others think of us and just live and enjoy life.
Stay Naked,
Nick
www.wedoitnaked.com
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