Hi guys, I’ve been looking for a place like this to ask for some help. Im a 19yo guy who recently moved out of his parents home for the first time ever. I got two roomies my age who are nice people, but they are ALWAYS barefoot, like at home, to get the mail, they also wear a lot of flips flops and just take them off. I’m not used to that, at my parents home we always wear shoes, no question about it. I don’t even own flip flops. However, our AC broke recently and it has been really hot inside and with my socks it’s getting uncomfortable. My roomies were telling me I should turn to barefeet like them, but I just don’t like the idea of them seeing my feet. However they say that once I turn to barefeet I would love it. Has anyone had a similar experience? What do you recommend?
I used to be the same way. You were brought up not showing your feet so it feels odd to do so. Just follow your roommates led and you will adjust and will probably learn to love going barefoot
Well, today has been really hot so I took a big breath and left my room without shoes or socks, just my plain barefeet. My feet are also very white compared to them as they have tanned feet. The first thing I felt tho were the textures of the warm carpeted floor vs the chill wooden living room, it felt a bit refreshing tbh. Anyway, my roomies did notice it was the first time they saw my feet and told me I look good barefoot so I shouldn’t be afraid about it. We played some board games barefoot and at time I forgot I was indeed barefoot. Haven’t used any socks today and my roomies now say that I’ll slowly become one of them. Could it be?
My wife encouraged me over 30 years ago that I should wear shorts and sandals. I never wore either, just felt weird to me. My real awakening came a year and a half ago. I suffered from depression and a doctor told me that daily walking would help, so I started walking and I believe the Lord put into my mind to walk barefoot in the grass. I was hooked it felt great and I could feel the depression lifting. I began researching barefoot walking and discovered earthing or grounding and the benefits of being in contact with the earth. The more you go barefoot the more natural it feels to you, because it is natural we are designed to walk barefoot and the more you do the tougher your feet get. Also, your self confidence will build and you will prefer to be barefoot. I only wear footwear when it is culturally expected or the activity I am involved in requires the protection footwear provides. Glad you are trying it and enjoying the textures and that your roommates are encouraging you. Keep posting here and share with us your barefoot adventures.
Hey that’s exactly what my roomies say. they say that their feet are so tough they can’t stand socks at all and that once my feet start to get exposed I’ll hate socks too. I don’t know if I’ll be confident to show my feet outside, but at least at home it’s starting to feel good.
They make a helluva argument. You seem to be in a good company, with people who will support you if you wish to take the (barefoot) step into the world of barefooting. If you wish to change this little detail about your life, you should definitely take advantage of this opportunity where you are with people who don't judge. This promises to be a good start. 20 years ago I was you. I was a full time shoes wearer. Foot shy, didn't want to show my feet to people. Change came when I realized that my years long habit of wearing shoes, even in places where it wasn't strictly speaking necessary, had given me a fungal infection to my toes. Yellow, brittle, bad smell... I had all the telltale signs. I resorted to a pretty radical solution. I took my footwear off, and started giving my bare feet snow baths. As in, real ice. And, together with keeping my nails trimmed as short as possible, it worked. Next spring I had my toenails odorless and back to their healthy, pearly white color. This taught me a lesson about the health benefits of barefooting. Namely that they're very real. Outside of things like accidentally hurting your feet on broken glass, or to a drug users HIV needle, your feet are indeed better off just kept bare and exposed to the world outside. As for finding the courage to keep going... I've always said, during my stay here of this forum, that you yourself must be the first person to get used to the sight of your own bare feet. Try it privately somewhere. Find some private spot where you can take the shoes and socks off without being seen, and just do things, ordinary everyday things barefooted so that you yourself first get used to the idea of really being barefoot. When it (hopefully) no longer feels bad, try some public place where bare feet are often seen. Beaches and public pools are very typical locations for this. Go someplace where being barefoot isn't questioned. You can try the more unusual places like shopping malls much later if you get used to this. Also, when you take a shower, don't put your socks back on where feasible. Wear the trunks and the Tee-shirt if you wish, but leave the socks off. The lifestyle will stick on you if you give it a chance, trust me. It's all about making those small changes first, and letting them accumulate. You've already surrounded yourself with a barefoot friendly crowd, so that's covered. Always helps when the people around you don't try to shout you down. Also, give it time. Virgin feet, in my experience, need something like 6 months to fully regain their proper musculature, and to develop that thicker skin.
Home is where you start, then maybe take walks in the park in the grass. What’s important is to enjoy being barefoot when and where you want to be.
Well I'm doing this today as well. Showered and did not put any socks, I'm working from home today so feels good.
Well the mail is a few steps outside and as I didn't put any socks today one of my roomies told me I should just try to get the mail barefoot as they do. So I did, but my soles turned back really dark as my roomies souls usually end at the end of the day. When I noticed, I was initially ashamed, but my roomie noticed too and welcomed me to the "dirty souls club" haha. It felt kinda sweet.
You are going to love the barefoot lifestyle I do and I have been going barefoot for 33 years I don’t own a pair shoes or flip flops I love the barefoot lifestyle it’s awesome
