Naked Ambition and a Bowl of Porridge
Apparently, today is World Porridge Day. I must confess that when I think about the great celebrations of the year, a bowl of oats doesn’t immediately spring to mind. Nevertheless, somebody somewhere decided that porridge deserved its own international occasion, and I’m rather glad they did.
There is something wonderfully reassuring about a breakfast that has survived generations without needing to reinvent itself. You can dress it up with berries, honey, cinnamon or whatever else takes your fancy, but beneath all the decoration, it remains a bowl of porridge. Simple, honest and perfectly comfortable being exactly what it is.
Perhaps there’s a lesson in that.
We live in a society that has become remarkably skilled at complicating ordinary pleasures. A cup of coffee has become an elaborate production, a walk requires expensive equipment, and even relaxing can feel like something we ought to be doing more efficiently. Somewhere along the way, we appear to have convinced ourselves that enjoying life requires considerably more effort than it once did.
Naturism offers a rather amusing contradiction to all this. In a world constantly encouraging us to buy more, wear more and improve our appearance, we have discovered considerable happiness in wearing considerably less.
Of course, there is rather more to naturism than taking our clothes off. It is about living comfortably, accepting ourselves and appreciating the freedom to enjoy ordinary experiences without unnecessary expectations. But there is something undeniably funny about the fact that one of the simplest ways to feel liberated involves leaving most of our wardrobe behind.
I often think the happiest moments in life are rarely the most elaborate. They are the unexpected conversations, the laughter around a table, the warmth of a sauna on a chilly afternoon or the pleasure of sharing a meal with people whose company we genuinely enjoy.
And there’s something rather lovely about the fact that these experiences don’t require us to impress anybody.
A bowl of porridge doesn’t care whether you’re young or old, wealthy or struggling, fashionable or hopelessly out of date. Neither should a welcoming community. What matters is the person sitting opposite you, the conversation taking place and the feeling that, for a little while, there is nowhere else you need to be.
As the Welsh autumn settles in and the mornings become noticeably colder, perhaps World Porridge Day is an invitation to appreciate the uncomplicated pleasures we sometimes overlook.
So tomorrow morning, whether your breakfast involves porridge, toast or a rather ambitious full Welsh, consider enjoying it without rushing towards the next obligation.
And if you’re a naturist eating your porridge naked, do be careful with the hot spoon.
Perhaps the secret to a happier life isn’t discovering what more we need, but recognising how much pleasure we can find in the simple things we already have. What simple pleasure makes your day better?
