Because of this months theme: Our Naturist World being linked to the relationship we have with the environment and our planet - I linked people to this Poll: https://anaturistworld.com/poll/view/57/naturism-and-the-environment

In the comments some one has written:

"Naturism for us is only coincidentally related by name. We care about about environmental issues anyway, clothed or not. Naturism is about personal comfort and wellbeing, and also how people are more open socially when nude. Our environmentalism is separate."

But I wonder if that is too much of a simplistic view. 

First Naturism is not coincidentally named but named purposely for it's link to nature. When we are undressed we are as nature intended, we are not unnaturally covered and we are connecting to our own nature and world nature in many ways.

Secondly - yes you can care about naturism without caring about the environment, or the environment without caring about naturism, but if you do care about both can they really be separate. Surely everything we care about as individuals are linked? Aren't all our personality traits connected as part of what makes us who we are? I wrote this on the Poll's page: 

"I believe that we cannot separate the various aspects of our life. Yes you can be a naturist without caring for the environment and you can care for the environment without being a naturist but I don't believe that you can say you are both and not see a connection. For the parts of our personality and our character traits are all entangled together. For example you cannot say that happiness, or confidence, or a want to be rebellious, or a belief in a caring society, or a want for adventure, or any other number of things cannot be linked to our choice of being naturists. They can all be enjoyed without being a naturist but if you are a naturist then they are connected. Just as being religious is going to be connected to the other aspects of your life, or being vegetarian, or being highly driven in sport etc etc. It is quoted below that naturism is about personal comfort, wellbeing and being social. Could we not take any one of these reasons and say that caring about the planet is integrated into each one? Can you be comfortable on a beach with tar in the sea, smoke in the air, rubbish scattered around etc. Comfort is always environmental. Can we find wellbeing in a world that is dying? Surely our own wellbeing is reflected in the environment. If we live better, encourage the world to live better, and have a world that doesn't upset us or anger us can that not be intricately linked to wellbeing? Can we be truly happy when we continue to see wildlife being wiped out, green spaces being lost and mountains of unwanted clothes on beaches? The dimensions of wellness may vary in number but environment is always a common theme. Our social comfort and openness with fellow humans has to also come down to positive connections. If those around us are not respectful of the environment we are in than can we find ourselves "open" to their company. For respecting the environment can effect us on a very social level. From sex in the dunes, to obnoxious behaviour, to literally damaging and ruining the space we share. The more in tune we are with each other the easier our connections become and the happier we are socially.
I do not for one moment believe that all naturists are or should be passionate about green issues and that is why there is more than one choice in the poll, but I do not think that we can imagine that if we are naturists who care about the planet that we can say they are not connected. It is odd that we are very happy to link naturism to a desire for body confidence and awareness, and yet these can both be enjoyed independent. I feel if you are a naturist and have body confidence or find body acceptance that of course they are linked, but like being environmental and naturist you can have confidence without naturism and you can choose naturism without the need to find confidence. There are other trendy aspects that people are very eager to place hand in hand with naturism - woke ideas, female independence and empowerment, a desire to be free thinking, rebellious, independent and openminded. But all of these things can be found in non-naturists, and can not be part of the reason individuals are naturists. Yet they are applauded and embraced as a meaningful reasons to be a naturist. And if you are looking to these things and you are a naturist then they are connected. Just like everything we feel and do and believe in our connected. So why are naturist bodies and trend setters not so hot on connecting the idea that caring about the environment and caring about naturism do in deed go hand in hand if you care for both? Everything has the ability to be separate in society, but when they are part of an individual they cannot be separated. No aspects of a normal person's character can be splintered off into non-effecting and not related rooms it is all mixed together and creates the individual that we are."

And I feel it has a place in considering this topic - Are we shaped by naturism or do we shape naturism. Are we naturists because of who we are or are we who we are because of naturism? Are the two things self feeding and effecting? 

If I was to say I am fun loving and then say I am a naturist then can the two things be separate, or if I was to say I like being rebellious could that not also be linked to naturism, or comfortable or adventurous, How can we separate are various personality traits? So surely if we respect the environment and naturism they have to be connected? Particularly when you consider to be a naturist we often take part in caring about our beaches, washing and buying and wasting less clothes, getting back to nature in campsites, going on hikes, enjoying gardening etc. 

I think we have a great opportunity here to encourage those who care about the environment to see a positive ally in naturism, and although you do not have to care about the environment to be a naturist (just as you don't have to fit into various stereotypes and aspects of naturism or any other life choice to find your own love and enjoyment in it) there are enough people who do care and enough examples of how naturism is a positive example of caring about the planet to encourage others who care to see naturism as a good thing.  

I guess going back to this Forum Topic. Does naturism take on the positives it has because of the people who chose naturism or do we become more positive because of choosing naturism? And how does that work with my thoughts here? 

From our many conversations in the past as a couple, and taking in all of our experiences to date, which does consider our private life, as well as our online and social life in and outside of naturism, we have come to the conclusion that for us, our naturism has become the factor that has enhanced the life we live. We have always been great supporters of green world around us, most of our time together has been a union of our everyday life, and great love of nature. We have spent many years walking in woodlands, and wild landscapes dressed, but have found that our ability to be naked in some of those, has been an enhanced experience. To a degree being clothing free has made us more aware of what is around us, and given us a deeper sense of not only our environment surrounding us, but also a deeper sense of self.

Anna asks the question: Are we shaped by naturism or do we shape naturism. Are we naturists because of who we are or are we who we are because of naturism? Are the two things self feeding and effecting?

We feel the two have a sort of symbiotic relationship, both feed off each other, it appears impossible to be a naturist, and not be changed by it, and as a result want to work to better both your life and your naturism. To fully explain this, we have always had nude aspects of life long before we understood what naturism is, we slept naked, was walked around naked after bathing or showering, and in the past Rob has washed in rivers, skinny dipped, and sat out in the sun to dry off before dressing. Rin sunbathed topless at home with her mother in the garden, and so there has always been elements of enjoying the feeling of being clothing free. We lived naked at home in the hot summers without realising that was considered naturism, and we relished those moments and the feeling it gave us.

Once we realised there was a greater world that embraced nudity in life, and it was named naturism, we then stepped out into the world of social nudity, and felt our life change. Naturism was a place we felt we belonged, and gained a sense of acceptance we had not felt before. We interacted more, tried more new things, such as camping naked and joining in events like bike rides, paint fights and teaching archery. These were all things we did dressed in the past, but being allowed to try them naked gave them a new sense of life and exhilaration. We spent more time in the garden naked, something we had done dressed with friends before, but when we had naked friends, it felt much more natural and connected than previously. Conversations took on new meaning, they were deeper, more open and honest with naked guests than dressed.

We have always shared a passion for the natural world, and have held views that the land around us should be nurtured and protected, so encountering it naked strengthened our resolve to be more aware and nurturing. We do feel being in our natural state leads us to live a more simplistic and natural life, which in turn brings us closer to the world around us and enhances our naked life. We now realise that we are more connected to everything, which is a far stronger bond than we ever felt living dressed, so it is within that sense that feel naturism has shaped us, and in doing so, we have tried to help shape naturism by working to improve it for us and for others. To us, it appears that we equally are shaped, and shape naturism for all.