It’s important to remember that you’re born naked and the rest is drag.
RuPaul
As my Skin Truth disciples will know, I have recently made a pilgrimage to Iceland. I didn’t know it was going to be a pilgrimage before I got there though. I had wanted to go for some time, everyone had told me how amazing the sights were and how nice Reykjavik as a city was and the great outdoors is where I like to be, so my partner and packed our bags and off we went for a nice winter break.
Iceland turned out to be so much more than a nice jaunt in the Nordic countryside. We explored some of the most amazing natural wonders I’ve ever encountered; geysirs, tectonic plate boundaries, volcanic landscapes, exposure to the elements like we’d never had before.
But alongside the jaw dropping geology, I found a liberated and humble culture who appreciate the simple things, make the most of what they have and value self care. Each and every cafe we encountered was filled with fresh breads and pastries made from scratch by individual small town bakers. Each one had it’s own character and seemed to attract its own unique customer base. Coffee was strong and to be savoured in a quirky second hand chair alongside the local paper in a warm atmosphere with low level lighting. People openly choose warm, comfy jumpers, layers of woollen fabrics and chunky mittens and even the evenings feature sweaters and scarves instead of little black dresses and statement heels. There is a sense of practicality instead of high-end designer looks and this even spreads to their selection of flea-markets and second-hand shops, which seem to house good-as-new fabrics and are bustling with locals looking to recycle the old and remain more eco-conscious than fashion conscious.
The Icelanders utilise their naturally heated waters to full effect too. Most locals are found in the evenings at their local hot tubs and goethermally heated swimming pools, relaxing and taking in the evening’s conversation under a starry sky. The hot evening baths were probably one of my favourite experiences, but this was due to more than just a warm soak at the end of a day’s adventure. The pure Icelandic waters are not chemically treated like those of British swimming pools and so part of the ritual at any public baths is a good scrubbing beforehand…naked. Completely starkers. At the local pools, this was a fantastically liberating experience. In Britain, nudity tends to be frowned upon, it is shut away and kept private as something to be worried and shy about. This was nothing like that. There was an incredible sense of freedom in the ladies changing rooms unlike anything I encounter back home. Women of all shapes and sizes were just getting on with their lives. Interestingly, nobody seemed self-conscious until they put their clothes back ON. When the clothes went back on, personalities seemed to shrink back a little, the make up came out and war masks were ready again. The little female sanctuary that had existed was soon lost once we realised we had to mix with the outside world again.
But why is this? How can we capture the sense of openness and emancipation outside of an Icelandic swimming pool changing room?! I think the answer comes from the Icelandic culture as well. Looking after ourselves, making time for self-care, eating good food, drinking good coffee and most of all, not worrying about what the rest of the world thinks. We need to learn that there is nothing scary about our own skin and that the best way to feel confident is to start celebrating ourselves. Every day.
So if you are planning a winter getaway and are pondering Iceland, I would urge you to GO! Experience the amazing natural wonders, but also soak up the nature of a culture that will help you ditch the war paint.