NO SHOES, BETTER SERVICE?

I try to respect my body and let it act the way it wants to. We have a little dialogue going. If it's like, "I have a headache, please don't make me run today," I'll usually be like, "Well, is it just a passing thing, I mean, can you work through it? Or is it really bad, in which case I'll put you down for a nap." It's always a bit of a bartering session. Sometimes my body'll be like, "I want a slice of apple pie." And I'll counter, "How about 2 small cookies instead?" And then it's like "Okay, fine." Or maybe its, "Buzz off. I swam you a mile and a half today, the least you can do is feed me pie."

And even though I tend to be kinda competitive in most respects, when it comes to my body, I usually let it win. I just want what's best for my head, shoulders, knees and toes (knees and toes.) It's the only bod I've got--so far. We'll see where technology takes us in the next few years. But anyway, given my healthy regard for my personage, you can imagine my concern after reading an article last week about how BAD shoes are for you. That's right. And they weren't just talking about high heels. Sneakers are also apparently a deadly sin. Researchers concluded that, prior to the advent of shoes, humans had healthier feet. And now that we are so reliant upon footwear, our natural gait has gone to the dogs. Probably quite literally, because most dogs don't wear shoes...

Wanting to hold my feet in proper esteem, I decided I was going to make an effort to more thoroughly explore the world of bare feet. So yesterday, I ran through Santa Monica barefoot, and I noticed a few things in the process. First of all, I noticed that you have to watch where you're walking when you're trying to pull a Shoeless Joe Jackson. I did make one painful step onto a pebble, and onto the occasional (painless but messy) stray mulberry. But it kept me present. My mind wasn't wandering as much as it usually does.

Another thing I observed was how grounding walking barefoot actually felt, if a bit more effortful. And though it might have been asphalt and concrete rather than terra firma, I just felt there was one less thing coming between me and mother earth, and I dare say, it made me a little less flighty. Oh, and walking on the grass felt fantastic. There was definitely an element of euphoria in the proceedings.

What I also noticed was people looking at me in a different light, either like they thought I was a bad-ass, or, quite possibly, a vagrant. Or maybe both. But I didn't mind. I told myself, "I bet their gate isn't half as awesome as my gait." And, if they felt compelled to donate food or money, so be it.

As it is with most things, the jury still seems to be out on how harmful this shoe-wearing habit of ours really is. I've made a pact with myself (and my body) that I'm going to keep wearing shoes to restaurants and weddings. But I am going to continue to explore the concept of bare feet in public, for a bit of a break from the norm as much as anything. Won't you join me in walking a moon without mocassins?