Naked Gardening Day inspiration for M’s Kitchen

A World Naked Gardening Day dare and my world was about to change forever

Three years ago today, my relationship of nearly 20 years was officially over. As I prepared for a work event, I had a message with a pic of a woman naked gardening.

The picture was stylish, but the odds of me gardening in the buff were very low indeed.

So I laughed and carried on with my work.

I started thinking on the way back from the Awards.

Could I actually take a picture of myself naked gardening

I had this magnificent Japanese maple that was positively glowing; this Pieris Forest Flame that was beautifully peachy…

I loved to garden.

Consequently I went outside and took some pictures when I got home and before I lost my nerve.

The light was in my eyes, so it was not the easiest recce I’ve ever done.

I looked at the pictures later; I almost didn’t recognise myself.

The colours of those leaves were amazing against my skin.

It showed the mischief in my eyes.

My skin looked soft and glowing.

Yet the survival part of me hasn’t recognised this part of me for years.

This me who was fun, liked to laugh, try new things and wasn’t afraid to love.

I was in the process of writing a baking book

I didn’t yet have a name for the book.

All I knew is that the book was inspired by my granny who I was named after.

It was important to me that the book and the recipes in it was not altered with filters into seeming perfection.

That it was real. Real good, real tasty, really naked baking in all its splendour.

In M’s Kitchen is where I anchored myself from all that hurt, all that pain of my lost relationship.

Here I bake myself better, step-by-step. Day by day.

In M’s Kitchen is where I let myself be free

Here is where I found myself again.

Where I found the courage to be naked, to be me.

Naked Baking is deeply personal.

Yet, it demonstrates that the way we feel is deeply embedded in our culture.

That we express this culture through our food.

Thus, when we connect the two, we can stay anchored wherever in the world we find ourselves.

This is my story.

It is one of the many stories of my life.

It was not easy to write my story even though I’ve written dozens of stories about other people.

So today I go back to World Naked Gardening day.

I say “thank you” for giving me the courage to open up again.

Thank you for that dare that put me on the path to finding my sensual self again.

Thank you for this Naked Baking journey allowing me to let go of the hurt.