One of my secrets joys in life is going barefoot. Ah, I can see you rolling your eyes and shaking your head right now. Are you thinking that perhaps going barefoot is unsanitary, or unsafe? Perhaps you’re thinking of my grimy feet at the end of it, or the calluses I’m slowly growing on my heels and on the balls of my foot.

It’s strange that people have this reaction to going barefoot when, after all, shoes haven’t been around that long. It’s not as though we come out of the room with a neatly fitting pair of shoes tied on to our baby feet. Shoes are a modern invention, and rather than helping our feet, in many cases they can actually harm them. I’m not sure that you could convince me that walking around in seven inch high heels or a pair of pointy flats could be good for my feet.

Going barefoot, though, is a great way to give your feet a rest from the shackles of our shoe-obsessed society. Try it, and I’m sure you’ll feel the same. While I’m not advocating running around over broken glass, flexing your toes against the soft grass in a park, or walking along warm concrete can be refreshing and lovely. Barefoot walks on the sand are great, too. There’s nothing better than feeling your toes curling around the scratchy sand, and feeling yourself sinking into it. It’s like being hugged.

So, the next time you want to get that little bit closer to nature, or the next time you want to get away from all of the painful trappings of our day to day life, why don’t you strip off your shoes and go for a walk? It doesn’t have to be a long one, and it doesn’t have to be painful, but just appreciate the experience of experiencing the world, for once, through your feet.

Oh and for all you other hippies out ther, I think you should check out Paul Welton Enigin website! He does the stratigic marketing for an energy savings company and has a really great blog!