One Step at a Time

Since sometime last year, I have been going barefoot whenever I can. Whatever the merit of it is, I know it feels good and has toughened up my feet. Ok, I have to wear shoes to work, but that was primarily last year. everyone talks about having a better connection with Mother Earth when you are barefoot, something I can wholeheartedly agree with.

Most of the time I am barefoot inside the house, walking on the lawn and driving the car. Not a very rugged undertaking. Some which I read about on the Internet go hiking barefoot and other rough activities. I guess I am still a bit chicken to treat my body in such a harsh way. I think everything has to be in balance and to treat one's feet in such a harsh way is not about achieving balance.

Since I have moved to Maine, I am no longer working and hence almost exclusively barefoot. What a great feeling. I love mowing the lawn in bare feet. You can feel the softness of the lawn beneath your feet, all the while ones foot fits the contour of the terrain. And I am thinking that my foot never bent in these odd ways when shoes held them rigidly in place. And all this while I have not had any complaints from my feet, no tired sore feet or blisters, etc. Back when I wore shoes, I had plantar fasciitis, it lasted for 2 to 3 years with varying pain, soreness and suffering. I had to get special foot inserts to properly support my foot aches to correct the situation.

Today when I go barefoot, I have no pain or suffering from this condition. I believe that going barefoot keeps your feet in the proper condition and actually prevents or heals Plantar Fasciitis. this is from a laymans point of view.

Now there are times when barefoot can't be done or should not be done, such as walking on rough terrain such that you will hurt or damage your feet, remember to keep all things in balance. So at those times I wear sandals, I have a pair of quality sandals which I wear. I have had them for almost two years now, so a new pair will be needed soon. What will I do when winter comes, well I will have to protect my feet in some way. Right now I am not sure what or how I will do it. But in any case it will be done with reverence to Mother Earth and in a way in order to maintain balance with all that exists.