So... There's Something I Should Probably Tell You

Thirty years ago, dating was a very different experience.

There were no apps.

No profile biographies.

No lists of hobbies, interests and favourite films displayed for public inspection before a first date.

If you wanted to get to know somebody, you had to do it the old-fashioned way.

You spent time together.

You talked.

You discovered things gradually.

And sometimes, very gradually.

By the time Gareth and Sian had been dating for six months, they knew quite a lot about each other.

They knew who made the better cup of tea.

They knew who always arrived ten minutes late.

They knew which songs would have them both singing along in the car.

They knew which takeaway to avoid after "that unfortunate incident" involving a questionable chicken curry.

They had met each other's friends.

They had met each other's families.

They were beginning to talk about a future together.

Everything was going wonderfully.

Except for one thing.

Both of them were keeping exactly the same secret.

Not because it was scandalous.

Not because it was shameful.

Simply because they had absolutely no idea how to bring it up.

You see, both had grown up in naturist households.

For both of them, naturism had always been normal.

It wasn't something they spent every waking moment thinking about.

It wasn't a hobby that dominated their lives.

It was simply part of how they had grown up.

Yet six months into a promising relationship, neither had mentioned it.

At first it hadn't seemed important.

Then it had felt slightly awkward.

Then it had started feeling very awkward.

Eventually it reached the stage where every passing week made the conversation seem increasingly impossible.

Gareth had rehearsed it in his head dozens of times.

Perhaps he could casually mention it while discussing family holidays.

No.

That sounded strange.

Maybe while talking about beaches.

No.

Even stranger.

Perhaps he could simply say it directly.

Unfortunately every attempt sounded like the opening scene of a crime drama.

"Sian, there's something I need to tell you..."

Not ideal.

Meanwhile, Sian was conducting exactly the same internal debate.

She had become so determined to find the perfect moment that she had accidentally convinced herself there would be a perfect moment.

There wasn't.

The conversation finally arrived on an ordinary Sunday afternoon.

The kind of afternoon where absolutely nothing remarkable is supposed to happen.

The couple were sitting together after lunch.

The television was on.

Neither was really watching it.

Gareth suddenly decided he couldn't carry the secret for another day.

If this relationship was going somewhere, she deserved to know.

He took a deep breath.

Muted the television. And uttered the six words guaranteed to alarm any partner.

"There's something I should tell you." Sian's heart immediately sank.

Nobody ever begins a sentence like that to announce good news. Her mind raced through every possible disaster.

Was he moving away?

Had he done something terrible?

Did he secretly support England in the rugby?

After an uncomfortable silence, Gareth finally blurted it out.

"My family are naturists."

The silence that followed seemed to last forever.

Then Sian burst out laughing. Not because she was shocked. Not because she was offended.

But because she couldn't believe what she had just heard. When she finally stopped laughing, she wiped away a tear and replied:

"That's funny."

Gareth looked horrified. She continued.

"My family are naturists too."

For several seconds neither spoke. Then they both started laughing.

Six months of anxiety.

Countless rehearsals.

Endless imaginary worst-case scenarios.

All for absolutely nothing.

As it turned out, both of them had been carrying the same secret while simultaneously worrying about exactly the same conversation.

The irony was almost impressive.

Years later, after marriage, family life and countless shared adventures, that conversation remained one of their favourite stories. Not because it was about naturism. But because it reminded them of something important.

The things we fear sharing about ourselves are often far less frightening than we imagine. Authenticity has a way of bringing people together.

And sometimes the thing you've spent months worrying about turns out to be the very thing that makes someone smile and say:

"Oh, me too."

Dare you shine #beyou #loveyourself #youreamazing