Let Freedom Ring

Martell is preparing to go on a research trip in august. As a geology major "research trip" means that they get to go play in the great out of doors while checking out cool rocks and fossils and things. Yeah. You should be jealous. I certainly may or may not be. Part of his preparations involve looking for some footwear that would be suitable for hiking. In his quest for good shoes he found these

These fancy footwears seem to be quite the up and comers in the world of new-fangled outdoor equipment. There is a growing number of people who feel that our feet are designed to be walked on. Without shoes. Feet really are rather elegantly and functionally designed when you think about it. Each tiny little bone fitting perfectly with the next to build such a lovely arch (two actually). How many art/construction/humanities classes discuss the arch and the functional beauty that it provides. Yes I know some people think feet are ugly. They just haven't thought past the fungus, which, on a side note, would be tamed if people ditched their damp, dark, warm, fungus habitat they call shoes

There is a downside to not wearing shoes, however, and that is debris. There is so much to be stepped on in this world. Most of which is relatively harmless, but there are the occasional sharp rocks, thorns, broken glass and other such nonsense that just plain hurts. And so a shoe was born. A shoe that is designed be serve the sole purpose of protecting your precious feet without hindering the foot's natural capacity.

An anecdote:
When I was a kid I read a Sherlock Holmes book that, to be completely honest, has mostly escaped my mind. The bit I do recall is simply that Sherlock used his brilliant deductive capabilities to pinpoint who the culprit was (I don't even remember the crime) based on footprints. The footprints at the scene of the crime had toes that were remarkably spread out, unlike feet that have been accustomed to life inside a shoe. He determined that the culprit was thus, a character in the story who was of a culture that went shoeless. Ever since then I remember my brother bragging about how much his toes spread and how close to a natural state his feet were. We used to run around barefoot all summer, like most kids, and he was always rather proud of his feet.

Another anecdote:
One summer when I was older my parents decided they wanted us, as a family to be more active/physically fit. They decided that every morning we would wake up and go on a walk as a family. When we got home we would do stretches. Dad usually led the stretches and at the end he would have us give our feet a good rubbing. He said the guy who taught him that stretching routine always did the same. He said you should love your feet. They work hard.

Now, lest you think these five fingered shoes have won me over, I will tell you the end of my story. Martell and I have started walking barefoot. As of yesterday. And to be honest, I'm in with all those people who are loving the idea. My feet are a little sore today because they got a workout they are unaccustomed to. But it's not a bad sore. As a matter of fact they feel great. Many people reported changes in their posture, which I can attest to. I was also aware of ways I need to strengthen my core as a result of my changed posture. (my abs are completely shot after having a baby) Overall, it was the beginning of an improvement, I think.

Also, walking suddenly became a tactile experience. I could feel the subtle changes in temperature on the pavement. I enjoyed the brush of the grass and the perfectly smooth wood on a bridge we crossed. It was a refreshing and somewhat meditative experience to be so much more aware of the subtleties of my surroundings.

And so I am an new advocate of barefootedness. Free your feet!



**In other freedom related news, Sally had a bath today and loved it. A breakthrough. Some days she is ok with baths, some days she is definately NOT. Today, though, when I took her out and wrapped her in a towel she started screaming. It wasn't until I put her down and removed the towel to get her dressed that she stopped. Yep. That's right. Sally prefers being naked.