Just stumbled across this newsgroup; glad to see it exists- maybe we
can get some new conversation going.. Its a new year.. At any rate;
thought i would post some personal observations. Living in the USA
(Florida) the weather is wonderful for going barefoot. Here in the
states it can be as hard, or easy as you want in terms of not getting
hastled. You can't expect to walk into a 5 star resturant; but there
are many places where its no problem. Being surounded by water, there
are many places, we call them vilages where many people are barefoot
all day. I personally strongly dislike shoes/socks and prefer to be
barefoot whenever/whereever possible.
So how does life change when you go barefoot? I can only answer for
myself; so i'll share.
Probably the most obvious thing for me was awareness, of self,
suroundings and others. Maybe a bit self-conciousness (what will
people think,etc) but that was more at first. Now I don't really care
if someone /doesn't/ like the fact that i'm barefoot; and in the back
of my mind maybe the fact that i am might give someone the little push
they need to do it too.
I really enjoy the hightened awareness, personally i feel like i have
more presence when i'm barefoot. I feel more comfortable and relaxed,
more in control and happier in general. People who know me are used
to my being barefoot all the time; only on occasion will i get a
question or comment from someone whom i've just met or maybe out in
public, more so the later.
I can't get into a movie theater barefoot; however the moment i find
my seat i kick off the shoes and enjoy the show. Normal casual food
places wont let you in barefoot here either; however once you take
your seat you can get barefoot during your meal and you will not get
hastled, i do it all the time.
I was lucky where we used to live there was a grocery store that was
barefoot friendly (unofficially of course). I shopped there for two
years and never once had shoes or socks on. Where we live now when we
first moved i tried the grocery store out going in barefoot and was
stopped on my way out by the manager who hastled me. He claimed there
were complaints; however i was in the store less than five minutes, i
think he and his store are uptight and have their priorities all
wrong; but thats just MHO.
Being barefoot is a choice, a lifestyle i suppose; but in reality; its
just part of who you are.
I've touched on a few things here.. Hopefully someone will respond and
we can get a real conversation going here in 2007.
--BF4LIFE
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