As a younger man I never found any good long-term mentors, clothed or naked. Perhaps it has something to do with having an unusual personality (INFJ). I even had a professional counselor tell me after three years of therapy that she didn't understand me (ouch!). One on one relationships are unfortunately viewed with suspicion in today's sexual abuse triggered world. That makes mentoring - especially naked - difficult. In addition, many people who could use help often don't realize it, so you're ahead of the curve in that way.Here's my advice on mentoring: 1) Follow the old saying "When the student is ready, the teacher appears." 2) Understand you will likely learn and get more from giving than receiving, or being a mentor instead of a mentee. 3) Some people need A LOT of help and you really can't do much. Focus on them. Giving them attention and compassion is usually more important than "results." 4) Realize your tremendous power in reflecting back people's wisdom to themselves, helping them see their own answers. 5) Be willing to keep the mentor/mentee status flexible; I for one am often embarassed how much I have to learn from men young enough to be my son.s 6) Keep on showing up and you'll find answers in the oddest people and places - it's all a wonderful process. 7) Don't focus on clothes or nudism but consider your that birthday suit is the most comfortable, washable, vulnerable, free and honest one available.Good luck! You are the gift!
Great words of advice.
I think I had a great introduction to nudism. I didn't have a mentor or specific guardian. It was more of a village. I started nudism in Florida at Cliente'. I know that place has a reputation, but I was only there for the 5k they had that day. I meet up with a newbie nudist that I had met on Craigslist for the race (I know I got lucky with that one too. He was not a creep and is still one of my best buds to this day). After the race, him and I chilled by the pool and met a few more younger people. Some how I got introduced to the volleyball community down there and my world opened up. The nudist volleyball community/Tikis became my mentors. There are some many guys there that shared their experiences and made me feel welcomed. Even when I moved from Florida to Virginia, I spent my first weekend in Virginia at a nudist resort because my friends from Florida knew people up there. I am forever grateful. Now I am overseas and miss that community.
I had some amazing nudist mentors growing up; primarily my dad but also 2 of his nudist buddies and the dad of a nudist family we were friends with. They taught me so much and were such amazing role models. They always made me feel included and genuinely liked having me around. I felt like they were my friends rather than just the adults in the room. They were very instrumental in me continuing to be a nudist from the time I was little until today without ever taking a break. They made getting through puberty bearable. Strange as it sounds, I preferred being with them rather than hanging out with my school friends. I have a much tighter bond with my dad because of his mentorship
With such great adult mentors and role models, no wonder you preferred to be with them to hanging out with peers. You learn so much from much older men, especially in a bare-it-all environment. You are so lucky.I had some amazing nudist mentors growing up; primarily my dad but also 2 of his nudist buddies and the dad of a nudist family we were friends with. They taught me so much and were such amazing role models. They always made me feel included and genuinely liked having me around. I felt like they were my friends rather than just the adults in the room. They were very instrumental in me continuing to be a nudist from the time I was little until today without ever taking a break. They made getting through puberty bearable. Strange as it sounds, I preferred being with them rather than hanging out with my school friends. I have a much tighter bond with my dad because of his mentorship
I had some amazing nudist mentors growing up; primarily my dad but also 2 of his nudist buddies and the dad of a nudist family we were friends with. They taught me so much and were such amazing role models. They always made me feel included and genuinely liked having me around. I felt like they were my friends rather than just the adults in the room. They were very instrumental in me continuing to be a nudist from the time I was little until today without ever taking a break. They made getting through puberty bearable. Strange as it sounds, I preferred being with them rather than hanging out with my school friends. I have a much tighter bond with my dad because of his mentorship
It says a lot about your dad that he taught you such healthy and positive attitudes to nudity and also to masculinity, life, and friendship. And allowing his friends to also mentor you was also a demonstration of positive attitudes and his respect for you and for them.
Like you, my dad was a wonderfully positive influence in my life. He wasnt a nudist but he knew I was from an early age and encouraged me to be myself. He was also cool with me having friendships with nudist men Id met at the place where I sunbathed. But NB before anyone jumps to negative presumptions - NO - please dont presume that all men, especially all gay men, which some of them were, are predators and harmful people!! Nothing bad ever happened. I was only ever treated with kindness and respect and I have only happy memories from those times. Because my dad was so open and non-judgemental we could talk openly about anything and so he knew I was safe and happy. The place where I sunbathed was near our home and he actually knew one of the older men Id met and with whom Id struck up an unlikely friendship. We met him outside a local shop by chance and Dad and him chatted about the sunbathing place etc. After that he sometimes phoned the house and chatted to both my dad and me. Dad and he got on well too and I sometimes visited his house during the winter. So many boys would have had to hide their nudism and all kinds of harmless things from their fathers. I was blessed to have the dad I did.
Amazing stories from everyone !
So lucky to have a Dad to be that open about being a nudist and growing up. Yes I had wonderful parents and I miss them so much. But I have wished that I became a nudist a lot sooner. I am a mentor to as many younger people and love hanging with the older generation. I just got back from a camping trip with only men. We all are so relaxed around each other and that being naked is so natural around them.
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