How Thinking Barefoot can Influence the World
By: Leni Delu
Tags: Life Hacking, Life, Culture, Environment, Life Lessons

The barefoot thing

Many people find feet disgusting and therefore prefer not to take it too seriously. Others love feet and have a fetish. However, finding baby feet cute is what certainly unites us. They are untouched and pure, ready to explore the world. We dress our feet, beauty them, and use them daily. There are even great movies about barefoot, for instance, the German movie called Barfuß/Barefoot, from Til Schweiger. I bet many of you can also remember the scene from Pretty Woman where Edward Lewis/Richard Gere, the portrayed businessman, rolls up his suit and walks barefoot in the park. Taking off shoes, after whatever time, is liberating. But why is that?

Earthing — the physical advantage

No matter if flip-flops, high heels, sneakers, or boots, shoes are something artificial we ad to something natural, therefore it has an influence. Although barefoot officially is an adjective it should more be treated as a subject; thus get more value. There is a lot of scientific research going on to prove that walking barefoot is good and healthy. Whether walking, jumping, running, barefoot strengthening the feet because it uses more muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It can also benefit our sleep and our posture in general. There is even a term described to it — earthing. It describes being barefoot in exchange with natural surfaces like grass, water, soil, or sand. When we are barefoot and in direct connection with the earth, some magic takes place between our bodies and the earth’s electrons.

GIF by Emma Martschinke on GIPHY

Evolution and our ancestors have shown us the way. Only later they invented the first “shoe-like thing” to make it easier to climb and cross rough landscapes. No one would have predicted that we would end up in a world, in which we set an alarm clock in the mid of the night to get the shoes’ brands special editions. I’m not a scientist and specialist or want to judge about when, where, and how often to be barefoot; but we should raise more attention to it again and being aware of it. At the very moment.

To think barefoot, possible?

I would suggest yes, turning to the psychological part. Sometimes situations request wearing shoes, especially due to societal anchors. But why is that? Because anything else would be absurd? Imagine parliaments around the globe, where debating politicians would do this barefoot. It seems ridiculous at the first glance. But who knows maybe it would lead to better decisions. The same situation could be in a meeting room with top managers discussing the next financial crisis, or CEOs walking barefoot through their headquarters. This could have an inspiring effect or? I have actually seen this before; it mediates the feeling that we are all equal. Interestingly there needs to be no recreated photoshopped image of those situations, as we are all capable of making it up in our minds — because it is not so absurd after all. We are humans and being barefoot is human.

Even if societal norms make it difficult in certain surroundings, thinking barefoot can take place in our heads. You are stressed at your job and you can not think clearly? Then move your feet in the shoes, lift them and count your toes. Imagine the meadow you are walking on or holding your feet in the sea. It’ll work. Our body is capable of so many things, but our mind, oh wow, even more. We are sitting in the underground during rush hour and have the ultimate 21st-century posture “looking on our” smartphones. Move it a bit to the side and look down on your feet and say “hi”. Ok, this gets too funny, however, if only one of you tries it out, goal reached. If you do not have the chance to be barefoot, remind you of the feeling, and it will have a positive influence. It literally grounds us. Time is running so fast these days, so why not stand up, put your shoes off, and slow down. Being the child back then, being Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman.

There are still aboriginal cultures in the world where being barefoot is the most natural thing to do. There are religions like Buddhism, who put it on another level. Our feet are the single first contact with the earth, which already makes it so special. If we start to appreciate the feeling of barefoot more, even only mentally, we can reconnect to our environment. How thinking barefoot can influence the world? The most essential — It reminds us of being human.

P.S. I wrote this while being barefoot.