| Fear | Reality | |------|---------| | “I’m too fat/old/scarred.” | Naturist spaces have every body type. You’ll fit right in. | | “People will stare.” | Staring is rude. Most follow a “brief glance then eye contact” rule. | | “What if I get aroused?” | Very rare in non-sexual settings; if happens, sit down or cover with a towel until it passes. | | “I’ll be judged for my genitals.” | Genitals are just another body part. Judgment is considered a personal flaw, not a group norm. |

You don't have to love your stretch marks. You don't have to hate them. You simply have to not think about them while you're doing a cannonball into the pool. The goal isn't to look good naked. The goal is to be so comfortable in your skin that you forget you have skin.

Begin by spending more time naked in your own private space. Look in the mirror and practice positive affirmations like "I accept my body as it is". Focus on Function:

Do your morning routine nude. Cook breakfast nude. Vacuum the living room nude. Notice the feeling. At first, you might feel silly or exposed. That’s the shame talking. Sit with it. Let it pass. The goal is to reach a neutral state where nudity doesn't register as "sexy" or "shameful," but just as "normal."