Hey HardGuard, I’d have to agree that it would be a shame for you to give up something you enjoy that brings enjoyment to others, and I too can relate to what you’re going through.
In my own personal soul searching along these lines, I’ve realized that I’ve been an exhibitionist my entire life, having sought out opportunities to be naked from childhood. As a teen I was heavy, and this tendency of mine became somewhat suppressed, no doubt because of my own body consciousness, though even then I always liked my penis… the fact that I was well-endowed was a joy and I was never shy about showing that particular part off. Before I’d ever had sex with my now wife, I had shown her my penis. In fact we’d only just gone on a few dates when I showed her (it’s a bit of a long story, and there was a good reason, I didn’t just whip it out for the sake of doing so, but I’ll save that for another thread).
Anyway, I say all that to say, that if a person is genuinely an exhibitionist I don’t think it’s something you outgrow. I think it’s a part of you. I’m sure it qualifies as a type of fetish in head-shrinker speak, but it certainly seems about as harmless and benign as a fetish can be. It brings joy and generally hurts no one.
In my personal situation, being that I am married, it does bother my wife that I am an exhibitionist (yes, I’m very honest with her, she knows all about my on-line stuff), and being that I love my wife dearly, this in particular is what has caused me to ask myself if I should quit exhibiting. I’ve been on LPSG for years, and elsewhere all over the web, and for long periods I will often slip into hibernation when I’m trying to “Quit” being an exhibitionist. So far I always come back. The thing is, I know it bothers my wife that others get to see her husband naked, but I am absolutely faithful, I genuinely believe in monogamy, and so I know that she has nothing to fear, and I know that being an exhibitionist is just who I am.
So HardGuard my advice for you is the same as my advice for myself. If one day you “outgrow” exhibition, you won’t really need to question it, you’ll just wake up one morning and you won’t feel that urge to be seen and admired by an audience anymore. Growth can’t be forced and it can’t be stopped, if it’s going to happen it just happens. Until then, as long as showing makes you feel good, I say keep at it, that’s what I plan to do.