Putting a Face to the Feet...
Daniel
Virginia, U.S.A.
I have always loved going barefoot, but it wasn’t until I took a job with a strict dress code that I realized how little I wore closed-toe shoes with socks. In all my prior positions I was able to wear flip-flops, sandals, or even go barefoot quite often. Thankfully, the dress code at work has relaxed so I can wear 
sandals again! Plus, since I recently wrote the book on going barefoot (i.e., The Barefoot Book), I’ve gained a reputation for going sans shoes and my employer has been accepting. PLUS, being a teacher I have two months off in the summer – all of which is spent barefoot!
After I discovered the health benefits of going barefoot in 2007, I began spending much more time without footwear. I started running barefoot and did much more hiking barefoot. Soon, I started “public barefooting.” My first barefoot summer I found myself getting kicked out of many businesses. Actually, I discovered a pattern: I could get away with going barefoot almost anywhere once, maybe twice or even three times, but once they realized I was going to keep coming barefoot, I would get “the talk.” Interestingly, these “talks” have decreased with time… I’ve only received one this summer. Incidentally, I still shop at most of those businesses and they’ve long forgotten “the talk” they gave me. I stopped shopping at the few businesses that consistently rejected my bare feet. I should note that I almost always wear jeans, even on very hot days; going barefoot in jeans is much more accepted than going barefoot in shorts.
I lead a hiking group called The Barefoot Hikers of Virginia. Attached (below) is a picture from one our hikes and a picture of me running barefoot.
Sincerely,
Daniel
