"A
nd the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they [were] naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." Genesis 3:7
At the beginning of time, for a few short days, man was free of all inhibitions. There was no shame, embarrassment or shyness; Adam and Eve enjoyed the freedom of nudity, a blessing that was soon taken away from them. Due to Original Sin, God has damned us to an eternity of body waxing and concealing stretch marks. Naked is now a dirty word.
Our society hides the human body behind black bars and fuzziness. Granted we have progressed since the days of tent-like dresses as bathing suits, but society's perception towards nudity is still perplexing. On TV, we are allowed to see the entire breast except for the nipple. Janet Jackson's stunt proved that quite well; even after repeating the scene over and over, I still can't decide if it was planned. It is one of life's many mysteries. Three inches of Bam Magera's ass crack on Jackass is okay, but four inches? Forget it!
We are taught this discomfort with nudity from an early age and it affects our intimate relations. Girls will wrap themselves in anything -- dirty towels underneath the bed or sheets ripped furiously off the mattress -- to use the bathroom after sex. Some guys are so uncomfortable with their bodies that they'll refuse to take off their shirt or, even worse, their boxers during sex.
It's normal to be shy about nudity when you begin having sexual experiences; it can seem endearing and coy. To be honest, the human body is not always the most appealing form; there is always that moment in the morning, when sunlight blasting through the blinds exposes your blotching skin, mountainous zits and stubbly hair. Many people prefer to have sex without the lights on, so they don't have to see what the naked creature riding them really looks like.
It's seems very contradictory to be ashamed of the human body when you consider the mechanics of sex. For girls, though the penis is not that attractive -- especially when uncircumcised -- that fleshy rod with its pulsing veins is going inside of you. And guys, though the vagina can seem like a moist, pungent cave, you're thrusting into it one of your appendages. Why be afraid to look at those dirty things? Especially when you consider all the different places it's touching you.
Now, I am not saying that the human body is the perfection of nature. There are a few things I personally would change: all body hair below the neck and the fleshy, mushy feeling of testicles. Everyone has his or her own preferences.
Some guys prefer girls who let their hair grow naturally while others will stop the hook-up after discovering that she doesn't trim her hedges. Should these partialities be taken so seriously that it limits our sex lives?
Don't hold out for perfection; you have a better chance of earning an A+ in Biochemistry than hooking up with someone with a body like Jessica Alba's or Usher's. It's futile to let opportunities go by because he has an unshaven chest or because her breasts are too small. Hotness is by no means a measurement for how good a person is in bed. Though he may look great naked, it won't matter when you have to fake it -- now that's a quote worth sewing on a throw pillow!
Learn to be comfortable with your body, whatever size or shape it may be. If your partner has chosen to hook up with you, he or she must be somewhat attracted to you unless, of course, this person was desperate or blacked out.
Your shyness could create problems by preventing intimacy. By exuding confidence, you will seem sexier and more desirable. Guys love a girl who is comfortable enough to flaunt her assets in front of him and even enjoys her own body by touching herself during sex.
The feeling of your body touching every inch of your partner's is electrifying; the touch of skin with clutched hands, neck-nuzzling, chest-rubbing and entwined legs is a powerful force.
One of the best ways to experience the freedom of nudity is actually not a sexual practice; you truly haven't lived until you skinny dip. It's almost a spiritual experience as you swim, allowing the water to surround your entire body. Sadly the weather is too cold now, but there's always Spring Break to run down the beach, ripping your clothes off before diving into the moonlit ocean. Just make sure no one steals your clothes; it would certainly kill your post-skinny dipping buzz!
