| | |

They’re Gonna Judge You Anyway… Part 1: Might as Well Be Naked.

Byournaturistlife
Fear of Judgment A woman sitting nude in a natural setting, surrounded by greenery, enjoying a peaceful moment outdoors while embracing naturism.

Introduction: Seriously, Someone Will Always Have an Opinion

Let’s stop pretending for a second. People are going to judge you. And people have a fear of judgment.

They’re going to judge what you wear. They’re going to judge how you parent. They’re going to judge your hobbies, your body, your diet, your weird laugh, your terrible parking skills, your houseplants that keep dying no matter how many YouTube videos you watch.

And yes, they’re definitely going to judge you for being a naturist.

The Great Human Hobby: Judging Everything

Judgment isn’t some rare, shocking thing. It’s literally humanity’s favorite pastime. Right behind arguing on the internet and watching videos of raccoons stealing cat food.

People love to judge because it makes them feel right.

It makes them feel superior.

It makes them feel safe in their little bubble of “at least I’m not that person.”

And here’s the kicker: Even if you contort yourself to meet every social rule, wear the right clothes, say the right things, and never let a single eyebrow hair wander out of line… they’ll still judge you.

But too often, judgment stops being about actual values and turns into, “You’re doing something I don’t understand, and that makes me uncomfortable, so I’m going to declare you wrong.”

It’s not about morals. It’s about projection. And naturists have become one of society’s favorite screens to project their discomfort.

Our Turning Point (Also Known As the Day We Stopped Giving a Damn)

When we discovered naturism, we expected some judgment. We’d seen the media stereotypes. We knew what people whispered.

But something funny happened after we started living this way: We stopped caring about most of it.

Because the truth is, once you’ve stood there fully naked, surrounded by other fully naked people, laughing, swimming, eating chips in the buff, and realizing life didn’t collapse… all that external judgment loses its power.

The neighbors can gossip.

The internet can sneer.

Some random uncle at a family dinner can mutter, “That’s just weird.”

We’ve already faced the biggest societal taboo. And even though it was scary… it was incredibly freeing.

Nudity: The Ultimate Shortcut to “Oh Well”

Let’s be real… going nude is like taking a chainsaw to the entire “what will they think?” tree.

It forces you to confront the thing everyone fears… being seen exactly as you are. No shapewear. No clever outfits. No hiding. Just skin, imperfections, and you.

And the weirdest part? Once you do it, it feels… normal.

Naturism doesn’t magically make you immune to judgment. But it does make you immune to fearing it so much. After all, if you can confidently wander around in nothing but sunscreen and a lopsided sun hat, who cares what Cheryl from Accounting thinks about your lifestyle?

You’ll Be Judged Either Way… So Pick Your Peace

Here’s the liberating truth… no matter how carefully you play the game, someone’s going to hate the way you move your piece.

So why not move freely?

We’ve been judged for being too open. Others get judged for being too private. Someone will always think your life choices are strange, irresponsible, or just plain wrong. And that includes naturism.

People already think you’re weird for all sorts of random reasons. You like camping in the rain? Weirdo! You eat pineapple on pizza? Monster! You collect vintage lunchboxes? Psychopath (but honestly, we kind of want to see them).

Naturism just makes your “weird” more obvious. And honestly, that’s a gift. Once you own your weirdness, it becomes fun instead of stressful.

So the question isn’t “Will I be judged?” It’s “Is this worth being judged for?”

And for us, naturism absolutely is. It’s worth every weird look, every whispered comment, every awkward silence. Because this way of life brings us joy. It brings us peace. It brought us closer together, to ourselves and to each other.

And that’s worth more than a thousand opinions.

How to Keep Being Real When the World Wants You Covered

The hardest part isn’t the judgment.. it’s that little voice inside you that starts to believe it.

So here’s the trick: don’t let that voice speak louder than your truth.

Living authentically isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s lonely. But it’s always honest. And naturism, when practiced with respect and intention, is one of the most honest ways of living we’ve ever known.

That doesn’t mean you always have to shout it from the rooftops. But it does mean you stop apologizing for wanting a life that feels more human. More free. More real.

And the more you live that way, the more others will see the possibility in it too.

Judgment Hits Different As We Age

We’ve noticed something over the years. The way we deal with judgment changes as we get older. And for us, that’s been one of the most freeing parts of aging.

When we were younger, other people’s opinions felt like giant flashing signs we were supposed to follow. “Don’t wear that.” “Don’t say that.” “Don’t be weird.” Judgment had weight. We wanted to be liked. We wanted to be approved of. (And let’s be honest… we were still figuring out what the hell we were doing with our lives anyway.)

Naturism? Back then, that would’ve felt like too big a leap for each of us because we cared way too much about what people might think if we so much as wore sandals with socks, let alone nothing at all. And that’s never an easy place to be for young people.

But something shifts with age.

Maybe it’s the growing awareness that time is finite. Or maybe it’s the repeated realization that no matter what we do, someone will always have an opinion. But at some point, we just stop giving that judgment so much power.

By our 40s and 50s, we’ve likely weathered enough life storms, losses, rejections, transformations, to recognize that living a life shaped by the opinions of others isn’t living at all. You start to realize you’ve spent way too many years filtering yourself to make other people more comfortable. And for what? And that realization can be profoundly liberating.

We’re older. We’re tired. And we just don’t have the time, or energy, to care what someone’s cousin’s neighbor thinks about our naked asses. You get to a point where you’ve heard enough unsolicited opinions to fill a warehouse, and you realize something magical: most of them don’t matter.

We’ve started treating judgment the same way we treat spam emails: Delete. Block. Move on.

That doesn’t mean we never feel it anymore… sure, we still notice the stares, the raised eyebrows, the occasional online comment that feels like it was written by a potato with a Wi-Fi connection. But it doesn’t land the same way. Because we’ve grown into ourselves. And part of growing into yourself is learning how to laugh off the noise.

And as for our bodies? Look, they’re not 25 anymore. We’ve got wrinkles and stretch marks and scars and sunspots and frankly, we’re kind of proud of all of it. Our bodies have survived things. They’ve raised kids, survived stress, climbed mountains (real and metaphorical), been through medical trauma and still show up for us every single day. If someone wants to judge that, they’re welcome to.

But they’ll have to do it while we’re over here enjoying the sun on our butts.

So yeah, judgment still exists. But we’ve stopped inviting it in for coffee. Aging gave us that gift.

What Judgment Has Actually Taught Us

Here’s what no one tells you: judgment teaches you who you are.

We’ve been judged plenty. And we’ve survived every bit of it. We’ve even come out stronger, more self-assured, and a lot less interested in playing small to make others comfortable.

But more than that, we’ve learned how to hold space for others.

Because once you’ve been judged for something that makes you happy, you stop judging others so quickly for theirs.

That’s the kind of world we’d like to live in. One where we don’t have to agree to offer each other basic human respect. Where nudity doesn’t trigger outrage or suspicion, and where boundaries are honored, not erased, just because someone feels uncomfortable with difference.

A world where you can live honestly, without constantly having to defend it… but where honesty still walks hand-in-hand with responsibility and respect for others.

Closing Thoughts: If They’re Going to Judge You Anyway, Make It Worth It

If someone’s going to give you side-eye, it might as well be because you’re glowing with joy. Not because you’re living small.

People will judge you. Some will misunderstand you. A few will walk away. But others? Others will see you living freely and finally feel like they have permission to do the same.

That’s the ripple effect of authenticity. And if you ask us, that’s a judgment we’ll gladly carry.

So go ahead. Be the scandal. Be the rebel. Be the naked couple in the woods who smiles at the sunrise and couldn’t care less about the gossip.

Because somewhere out there is someone who’s spent their whole life hiding, waiting to see someone else go first. Be that someone.

We’ll be over here… naked, joyful, waiting for you. And still not giving a damn.

In Part 2, where we break down the judgement that happens inside naturism. Because it exists! “They’re Gonna Judge You Anyway… Part 2: Yes, Even the Naked Ones“

We hope you enjoy our human experiences in naturism. Please share, like, leave a comment and subscribe to get notified when we post something new.

You can also “Buy us a Coffee” if you liked our article!

A collection of diverse individuals enjoying outdoor activities in nature, some practicing naturism, exemplifying joy and freedom in their lifestyle.

Leave a Reply

Similar Posts

19 Comments

  1. Pingback: Naturism and Shame: Why We Left Shame Behind for Good
  3. Pingback: Judgment in Naturist Spaces | Why “Non-Judgmental” Isn’t Real
  4. Pingback: Nobody Ever Died Seeing a Nipple: The Psychology of Being Offended | OurNaturistLife
  5. Pingback: Naturism and Nudism – Why We Look! And Why It’s OK!

  6. Great article. A few years ago my boss called me in to discuss an issue. In the final analysis I told him, “It’s not that it doesn’t matter, it’s that I don’t care.” He was taken aback but agreed that some things are just not worth caring about. You are correct in that as we age wisdom tells us that sometimes we should not care about the opinions of others. Thanks for your insights.

    Reply

  7. Here is a little blurb on my experience at a resort. I will preface this by saying that I understand I brought this on. This happened several years ago, it was my first time at a resort, I didnt have any friends or family with me, yet here are all these people who have friends, families etc… admittedly I was a bit envious. I met and made friends with a couple; they allowed me to hang out with them. I asked allot of questions…remember this is my first time. I think I wore out my welcome with them so to speak. The day I left, I misplaced my car keys so i went to their site to see if they were there and I left my card with name and number on it in hopes they would reach out to me as they were nowhere to be found (pretty certain it was intentional). I finally found my keys near my car, and I left. I had a great time, and I just wanted to reach out to them and let them know…so I tried to find them on social media. I found them and then they went silent (meaning they privatized their media…rightly so) Fast forward the next year, they didn’t make it to the resort a friend said they had an injury or something in the family and they didn’t make it. The following year, I actually had my daughter with me (things were looking up, I was not alone anymore LOL) They did show up, but they “mad dogged” me whenever they saw me, at one point I saw them with a group of folks and could tell they were talking about me (pointing and looking in my direction) I felt bad, so i kept my distance. The following couple of years was just a repeat they just stay away from me and I from them. Last year, I introduced my wife to the resort, (now I have a permanent person with me, which is nice). I told her the story; I told her I felt bad. I wanted to get them some fireball or Jeggar as an apology let them know I just wanted to be friends back in the beginning, that was all I was looking for. She told me it could make it worse, I agreed so I didn’t say anything. My point is I never want to be that guy that everyone looks down their nose at and I will never be that guy that looks down on others or judges them. At the beginning of the day, we all take our clothes off one leg at a time. If you want to be friends, ok, and if you want to just walk past, that is ok too. Thanks for putting up with my long story. Hopefully someone can take something away from it. Peace to you all. Thanks for having a place to share.

    Reply

    1. Thank you for sharing this. It takes courage to be so honest about the vulnerability of that first-time experience. Especially in a naturist space, where emotional openness often gets tangled with high hopes for connection.

      We think many people can relate to what you went through: that mix of excitement, nervous energy, and the deep wish to feel included. It’s so easy to over-ask or overstay without realizing it, especially when you’re new and just craving a sense of belonging. And sadly, the reaction you received, intentional or not, left a lasting imprint. That kind of social sting hits hard in a setting that’s supposed to be open and welcoming.

      You’ve clearly reflected a lot and grown from it, and your attitude now is what naturism should be about: accepting others, even when things don’t go the way we hoped. We appreciate what you said… “we all take our clothes off one leg at a time.” That grounded humility is very true.

      Your story is a gentle reminder to everyone to be more patient with newcomers and more compassionate overall. We’re really glad you shared it here. Peace back to you.

      Reply


  8. Awesome article. It really speaks to those of us who still try to please everyone. Thanks for the advice.

    Reply

  9. So very true, Kevin. Thank you for posting this important message especially to those beginning their nudist experience. We shouldn’t deny ourselves of the joy and pleasures that nudism brings. Honestly we have gone past the point fretting about what others care. Don’t deny yourself either. Jan&Gary 😊👍❤️

    Reply

  10. The most “backlash” I got was not from the fact that my (first) wife and I were full-time home nudists and visited resorts. It was from the fact that we included our daughter.

    The crazy part to me was that this backlash also included other nudists (which may tie into Chapter 2); who felt that a child should not be “running around naked” around a bunch of adults…

    One argument that was presented to us was that a child “can’t choose for themselves”; implying that we were somehow “forcing her.” Another argument was that being consistently naked around her, we were thwarting her normal emotional development. Clearly, they had no idea that our daughter actually chose to be nude with us; and that if she was wearing something and one or both of us were nude, she would disrobe herself. And as far as her development, she is an adult now and only has fond memories of us being nude together and all the fun she had running around free at resorts.

    My wife and I did struggle with this initially. But with support from nudist friends and open-minded family members, we decided to proceed nonetheless. We accepted the fact that some people just weren’t going to “get it”; but we weren’t going to stop doing something that everyone in our unit was clearly happy with.

    Reply

  11. Thanks – another great article. I too don’t worry what others think now; reached 53 and life is there to be lived and be happy. Found Naturism via a naturist beach in Skiathos with my new girlfriend. She likes my body and I thought why do I hate it – so I embraced it, deformities and vitiligo included. So much happier now and have done many Naturist beaches since and a naked 5k run.
    Look forward to your next article.

    Reply

    1. I also found naturism on Bannana beach in Skiathos back in the 80s. On holiday with mates from work, they just laughed at the weirdos but I joined the nude bodies and became a weirdo.

      Reply


  12. Another wonderful article. I definitely agree that as you get older you get to that point of I don’t give a fuck what you think, I’m doing it anyway.

    And I love watching Raccoons.

    Reply

  13. I’ve been judged for going nude many times , by friends , family . My response is , why does it bother you that I’m nude and enjoying life ? If it doesn’t bother me , why does it bother you?

    Reply


  14. Nicely done. This is really well written, and quite frankly contains a bunch of very healthy life perspective and advice that is pointedly NOT unique to naturism or nudism.

    Reply

  15. Another excellent piece. Thank you. I’ve found adding years to my life has allowed me to be less interested in the what others think. Yes, I’m overweight and, yes, I have scars on my body. You know what? Deal with it. The scars are my reminders of my victories over cancer. Don’t like me being nude and overweight? Don’t look at me.

    Reply

  16. This article is absolutely brilliant, absolutely intelligent, absolutely inspiring, and absolutely perfect! Everyone interested in NATURISM, every single organization promoting NATURISM, and everyone wanting to ha e a positive relationship with others regarding NATURISM should read this post. I believe this philosophy and lifestyle can help save democracy and all nations who accept naturists and NATURISM! I haunt sites of naturists because “real” life and news is too dark and damaging to the psyche. This society/culture wants to continue the rush to destruction based on materialistic greed chasing and status symbols. Our humanity is being destroyed in the process! This magnificent philosophy and lifestyle is based on freedom, equality, integrity, honesty, community and sharing with family and friends. HOW CAN THIS BE WRONG? THIS WONDERFUL MOVEMENT IS THE ONLY HOPE FOR CONTINUED EXISTENCE OF OUR SPECIES! Everything worthwhile is being damaged by the status quo. THE WONDERFUL WEIRDOS AND PEACEFUL REVOLUTIONARIES OF NATURISM ARE RESPECTING ALL PEOPLE, NATURE, ECOLOGY, ART, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. We are near the point of no return regarding life on earth. NATURISM IS NOT JUST IMPORTANT! IT IS THE ONLY SENSIBLE PATH FOR CONTINUED LIFE! So be true to yourself! Celebrate life, freedom, honesty, community, family and friends with pride instead of fear, or worse: shame. As Rick Nelson sang in “Garden Party”: “You can’t please everyone so you’ve got to please yourself”! BE TRUE TO YOU! EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING WILL BE THE BENEFICIARY OF YOUR SENSE OF INTEGRITY!

    I didn’t mean to get on this rant, but this magnificent article was the uplifting reaction I needed today. As a news junkie, Political Science and History degree recipient, l cannot look away from the reality of life. For the first time, it is too dark and dangerous. NATURISTS OFFER A REALISTIC AND INTELLIGENT COUNTER TO THE SELF DESTROYING ACTIONS OF POLITICAL FIGURES, BUSINESS LEADERS, FINANCIAL TITANS, AND CRITICALS OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE. FAILURES ABOUND REGARDING THE STATUS QUO!

    PLEASE BE AS INSPIRED AND HOPEFUL FOR CHANGE, USING THIS ARTICLE AS YOUR GUIDE TO A NEW LIFE. AS THE ARTICLE CLEARLY STATES, EVERYONE IS GOING TO JUDGE YOU! BE YOURSELF AND IF THEY ARE DISRESPECTING AND HURTFUL, KNOW YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AND SOCIETY AND CULTURE ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG! IF THEY CANNOT UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THE NEW REALITY, I RECOMMEND THINKING “F-BOMB YOU AND HAVE A NICE LIFE AWAY FROM US” AS THE ONLY SENSIBLE REACTION.

    Reply

Leave a Reply