Tuesday, April 24

SPC - barefoot


I once spent an entire summer barefoot. I was 22 and worked as a waitress in a fancy restaurant on south Pender in British Columbia. I lived on north Pender, so in order to reach the restaurant in time to put on shoes, set up and welcome the first guests as they arrived between 5:30 and 6, I would set off, shoe-less, at around 3pm, hitching a ride with whomever I could.

By the end of that summer not only had the skin on the soles of my feet grown tough; my ankles were stronger, my feet broader, my centre of gravity had descended and I felt deeply connected to the ground.

For years now my feet have lived in shoes, and whilst they seem pasty in comparison to the wild woman feet I had that summer on Pender Island, they are still one of my favourite body parts. I like their broad, sturdy appearance and I think they are well suited for growing roots. Maybe it's time to take my shoes off again.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

nice idea. I like being barefooted too.

Anonymous said...

I love the story of your barefoot summer. I grew up at the beach and spent every summer growing up barefoot. My feet are flat and wide - I'm very stable on the ground.

Sharon said...

Nice ankles ...to go with those tootsies.

Bearette said...

It's funny, I was thinking of being barefoot just the other day! When I was 9, my best friend and I wandered barefoot around Salem Willows (a park near where I grew up). I could never do it in New York, though.

Anonymous said...

I go barefoot as much as possible, year-round. I simply don't like wearing shoes or even flip-flops. I live north of Boston so it's not very comfortable to be barefoot outside during the winter, which is why I'm planning to move to Florida so I can be barefoot all the time!

Vanessa said...

I love this. You have lovely feet. I was once (briefly) in a dance company called the barefoot dance company! and, yes,.... I'm all for kicking off those shoes and sinking those feet into the ground :)
Vx

La Cubana Gringa said...

My mom scared the bejesus out of me when I was a kid by telling me that if I ran around barefoot outside in the backyard, I'd catch a tapeworm...she said they liked to crawl in under the toenails. Needless to say, I wore shoes (even in the shower) for YEARS before I got over the whole tapeworm phobia.

Suzie Ridler said...

I've never been to Pender but hear wonderful things. I bet living and working there was quite the adventure. I marvel at your strong feet. I wish I could be barefoot like that by my tender feet would never allow me. Great photo!

Left-handed Trees... said...

I'm with you on the bare feet...this picture, with the background gleaming, was just lovely!

Mrs. Spencer said...

i love being barefoot. i walked around the yard all weekend without any shoes on and enjoyed every minute.

the light glistening off the water in this photo is perfect. i love it!

xoxo

Unknown said...

those are rather beautiful feet. foot fetishists everywhere will be grateful.

cubana gringa, in brazil, especially in rural areas, there is a tiny little bug that digs under your toenails and sits there getting fat till eventually you have to dig it out with a needle...!

Anonymous said...

i love going barefoot too. the world feels so different without shoes, much more.. real. i love the picture!

Lacithecat said...

Oh I want your feet! I hate mine and try to hide them whenever I can. I guess running for so many years, my feet are a mess. Now I have to wear comfortable shoes instead of sexy ones ... and it makes me sad as I love sexy shoes!

Oh well - I love other parts of my body. You can't have it all!

Unknown said...

I adored this story. I am a feet person. Some people fear feet, but I say, embrace them.
Wonderful photo too!!!

all over the map said...

I must be the odd one here? I like going barefoot on sand or grass but I'm not a fan of getting my feet dirty, or rough. I'm in the shower scrubbing and pumicing if there's any sign of roughness. I am not, however, a princess in any way - just to clarify. :)LOL
I can see the flexibility in your feet.

Vedrana M. said...

great story and photo!!! :)

Cherrye said...

I used to go barefoot all the time until I moved to Italy and they looked at me like I was nuts. Oh, yea, and evidentially you can die from walking around barefoot. Don't know how I made it all these years in Texas!

daisies said...

what a lovely memory ~ barefoot summers are the best! i spent many of those beautiful young days :)

Anonymous said...

Barefoot is the best, though it seems to fallen out of favor.

Is the ground more dangerous now than it was when I was a child? Or are we more cautious about connecting with the earth? So many questions...

paris parfait said...

Nice account of your barefoot summer. My sister would love that - she kicks off her shoes the minute she walks indoors.

Vanessa said...

hey baby, did you see that your feet and my hips (eek) are amongst the picks of the week on spc? sweet :)

boardster said...

Just came across this blog entry today while doing some research for The Society for Barefoot Living.
www.barefooters.org

Have you ever checked out the web site?

We are a non-fetish related group who's mission includes promoting acceptance of bare feet in modern society.
Not really counter-cultural in nature, well over half of the 1200 members are indeed mainstream professional people who just prefer living life barefoot.
My wife and I have been members for years, and have found the resources available to be of
tremendous help in our efforts to remain barefoot everywhere, despite myths to the contrary (driving, restaurants, etc.)
Don't let those strong feet and ankles atrophy needlessly!
Visit the site, and sign up for a free membership.
You will find the support there helpful in once again freeing your feet of unecessary support.
If you have any questions about the group, feel free to e-mail us personaly.

blondiefan said...

you have beautiful feet which i could look at all day, i love going barefoot especially in the summer but think barefoot is a wonderful thing and everyone should do it.