None of My Pleasures Are Guilty

I was debating with a few friends about the pros and cons of ebooks versus REAL books a few months back, when the conversation turned to pleasure. One friend in defending ebooks said that it allowed her to read all of her guilty pleasures without feeling ashamed.

I retorted back, “None of my pleasures are guilty!” Later on I went on to explain about how I read Lissa Rankin’s book, “What Up Down There. Questions You’d Ask Your Gynecologist If She Were Your Best Friend,” very boldly while riding the train each day. I reference this intentional action in my video book review. Click HERE to listen.

In fact, in writing that tweet and tagging Lissa, it turned out she had just watched my “Moving Meditation” video and had decided to offer me a role as contributing blogger on Owning Pink. Once she’d seen my tweet about pleasure, her book and public places, it just seemed to all fall in line with perfect timing.

HA! My insistence on pleasure being without guilt aided in the perfect timing of me working as a blogger on one of my favorite empowerment websites! I like how that all works. But that’s not even the point. That just makes the point sweeter!

In addition to reading Lissa’s book boldly, I also read The Pole Story without shame on the train. (Click HERE for my write up.) Have you seen that cover? So yummy! I read Penelope In the Divine on the train and in public places. (Click HERE for my write up.) I read Full Exposure, Shameless, 50 Shades of Grey and other titillating books all over the city and I enjoyed the pleasure of story, words and enlightenment as I devoured them.

None of your pleasures are guilty! Keep in mind, this post isn’t for those religiously inclined to subjugate themselves to repression because of their “given” sinful nature. I know this post won’t make sense to you and you probably think I’m a self indulgent pleasure seeking addict but, its no matter. For everyone else, YOUR PLEASURES ARE NOT GUILTY.

Even your tendency to watch Real Housewives or Gossip Girl or to read “trashy” romance novels… those are not laced with guilt.  They are what please you. You know your taste for red velvet or men in uniform? That’s not a guilty pleasure. That’s not how pleasure works.

What would happen if you let your pleasures exist without judgment? What would happen if with confidence you said, “When I have free time, I really enjoy reading YA sci fi books.”?  Because here’s the thing, if we were to articulate exactly why that thing pleasured us, we’d realize again, GUILT has no place.

For instance, I enjoy watching Gossip Girl. I’ve been following it since the beginning. Is it life affirming and going to change the world? No. Neither will popsicles affect world change but I love those. And in some instances, actually those things do change, impact and influence the world. Its neither here nor there though. If I were to articulate why I enjoy that show so much, it would be because I love the dynamic between Chuck and Blair. They have a connection and sexual energy so engrained that even when the show isn’t airing I can feel it and I like that. There are other fun or ridiculous things about that show but ultimately, that is why I like it.

What about 50 Shades of Grey? Was there guilt involved in me reading it? No. Despite the book sucking for the most part, lacking depth, being completely unrealistic and at times annoying the hell out of me, I read every single word in all three books because some of those sex scenes were hot and some of Christian’s one liners were perfect. I could do without the rest but I kept reading just because of it. And where is the guilt in that? Where is the guilt in enjoying someone’s wit and being a voyeuristic reader that enjoys a steamy sex scene. Hmm? Even if I had no reason for why certain things pleased me, still they are not full of guilt. Perhaps there is no profundity to be articulated in why you enjoy a certain tv show, sexual act or scent. Perhaps its just because it makes you feel good. If so, it is what it is. It’s what pleases you!

None of my pleasures are guilty. Why are you so inclined to judge, repress, belittle, hide or stifle yours? Who told you to do that and why are you willingly complying? Desire and Longing is not a crime, therefore enjoying the fulfillment of that pleasure should not be found guilty. (In so much as it doesn’t coerce or force someone else to be hurt against their will in order for you to experience that pleasure.)

WHAT PLEASES YOU?

Musings On My Erotic Manifesto | I Want to Watch You Touch Yourself

Sensate ~ Touching the World With Intent |MOJO ~ Oozing With It

Flesh ~ Succulent Substance of Spirit | Spiritual Eroticsm | On Love & Fucks

What I Take To Every Dance & Date | I Flirt By Default | What is Sexuality

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