Putting a Face to the Feet...
Michael
California, U.S.A.
Hi, my name is Michael. I am 19 years of age, and I am a current student at Sonoma State University. This is my barefoot story.
Where it all began….
“Barefooting” is somewhat of a new lifestyle for me. It is definitely something that many people look down upon because of societies norms of feet being “dirty” and “ugly.” I have looked past these silly misconceptions, and make an effort to go unshod when I have the opportunity. When I am barefoot I feel free. It is wonderful not having to worry about sweaty feet, and just being completely natural. It is also amazing how sensitive the feet are, and how much information they can take in. I love being able to tell what I am walking on and whether the ground below me is hot, cold, wet, bumpy, slippery, soft, etc. It is almost as if my feet have acquired a completely new sense. I never had knee problems in the past, so I can’t say that it has solved my problems, but I definitely can tell that my feet are stronger and can withstand a long day of being barefoot. In the future I hope to be running barefoot, but I am still building up my strength and slowly easing into it. Currently, I enjoy climbing trees barefoot and or with minimalistic footwear because I can “feel” the tree and connect with nature on a completely new level. It is pure bliss.
Being barefoot in public isn’t too difficult for me, but it has definitely taken some getting used to. I have gotten my share of funny looks, but I stopped caring about what other people thought a long time ago. I am always scared to go into a business establishment and be rejected because of being barefoot. Luckily, I have been okay so far, except for one establishment that I went into recently. The establishment was a card store, and I was with my family and had my shoes in my hand. I was just walking around when one of the ladies said “I’m going to have to ask you to put on your shoes.” My heart instantly dropped, and I didn’t know how to react or what to say because no one had ever said that to me so I said “okay,” and slowly left the store without putting on my shoes. This incident, being the first, made me a little angry. It took me a few days to get over it, but then I realized that I can’t always control when I want to be barefoot. I have learned now to respect establishments, because I don’t own them. Next time this happens, I will try and ask “why,” and possibly offer support for why I am barefoot, but if my efforts do not convince, oh well. I also think that when you carry around your shoes it makes it easier for people to come up to you and ask you to put them on. I am thinking of getting a little backpack to carry my minimalistic shoes in just in case I can’t fend off the shoe police. At college, I have not had any issues with going barefoot, and I recently taped the pedals on my bike so I could ride barefoot without the spikes hurting my feet. I love the feeling of the air blowing through my toes. Freedom is a good way to describe it. In the end, there are no laws against being barefoot, just people who have been misinformed. In the future, I will attempt to do my best to inform my friends, family, and business establishments about the benefits of going barefoot.
I hope that in the near future business establishments will learn more about the benefits of being barefoot, and the truth, which is that it really is natural to human beings. I love it, and I know many other people who love it too. We have all been told “no shoes, no shirt, no service.” I really do not like that statement because it has been engraved into our minds, and it closes off the idea of ever going barefoot anywhere. I honestly respect and appreciate organizations such as The Primalfoot Alliance because they help to bring society closer to unveiling the truth behind not wearing shoes. I hope that this can be accomplished someday. My advice for someone making the transition into going barefoot is to start slow, not be afraid, and respect businesses if you can’t convince them to be barefoot.
It is amazing how shoes limit the receptors in our feet and close them off to the world. Our feet are our support systems, and they are an amazing asset to our body. Unleash their potential, take off your shoes, and take in the world around you. Thank you for listening.
Best Wishes and Happy Barefooting,
Michael
