I think I'm going to do it. Let me start by saying that I've always hated my feet...I have very small, wide feet (my mom says the width is from going barefoot as a kid constantly? Maybe that's an old wives tale...dunno.) with kind of high arches and chubby toes. I've always thought they were SO ugly. After doing pointe ballet for a few years I RUINED the looks of my feet. The soles are very tough and calloused in places, my feet are muscular, and there are scars from dancing. I didn't wear flip flops for a very long time because of this...I had remarks about how ugly my feet were (and with the sores that you get from pointe I can understand the comments.), mostly from family members. I basically have battered hobbit's feet, but they're not furry. I've been lurking in this forum for a while...reading some of your posts and looking at some of your pictures, and it hit me. Feet are beautiful! Today was the first time I went barefoot in public (walking through walmart, flip flops in hand) and it was liberating and...I don't know the word. It felt amazing. I love it. I usually never wear shoes in the house, and I rarely wear them going outside to let my dog out or whatever...but I've just realized how good it feels. Any advice? I'm a college student and I don't know how to go about that...should I wear shoes to class? I really don't know how to go about the whole thing...shopping, restaurants..
Congratulations on taking the first step on going barefoot in public. I know it may not be easy, but it might help if you carry your flip flops with you. In doing that people will think your flips are bothering you and you decided to just take them off and go barefoot.
Yeah I think that's a good idea too. I go barefoot like everywhere but put on flip flops going into restaurants, etc. just to keep peace with the kind folks. When I was in college, I went to a few classes barefoot in the summer. You'll kind of get the feeling which ones you're comfortable doing that in. Just do what you're comfortable doing- I guess that's the whole point to going barefoot too.
true, it would be beside the point to force myself to take steps I'm not ready to take... I'm transferring to a school with my best friend and she likes to go barefoot sometimes (I just found out today when I "came out" to her!) to class. So I think we'll do it together at the Uni. It'll be a lot more fun with her doing it with me! I'm going to start driving barefoot tomorrow...kind of excited!
i love driving barefoot, especially a standard. definately have a better touch with the clutch in barefeet
Okay, today was amazing! I drove barefoot all day, walked across campus barefoot, and I'm in the computer lab barefoot right now. People don't notice..or they don't care! I didn't want to do the whole on campus barefoot thing because I thought it would be embarassing or wierd, but... Okay, I wore my flips to my first class, took them off when I sat, put them back on when I left. Second class I took them off when I sat and carried them back to my car..haven't put them back on since. So happy. Don't know what it is, but I feel like a big weight's been lifted when I take them off. I didn't realize how uncomfortable shoes are!
Congratulations, and welcome to the barefooting world! I've found that whether people notice your bare feet or not depends on geography and how you're dressed otherwise . Just be prepared with a smile for those who react negatively. Understand that they're just frustrated with their own hang-ups and respond with compassion. Just one more liberating moment you'll one day experience while barefooting!
I'd be interested in hearing more about your WalMart barefoot experience (since it was your first). What made you finally decide to take your flip-flops off? Did you get any reactions from people? How long were you barefoot in the store?
i agree with Barefoot_boy. if a pair of flops improves your self confidence, pick them. time will come in which you'll grow disappointed of having them at hand and you'll start forgetting them at home.
Hey, welcome to the land of barefooters! I've gone barefoot in public since the early '80s, and the older I get, the more I avoid shoes. Anyway, my advice to you is to go at you own pace; barefoot where you feel comfortable, and do what you need to do to feel cool in businesses (wear long bellbottoms, walk behind shopping carts, etc.). The confidence will come with experience. Occasionally, you'll encounter resistance from someone who is either a bigot against bare feet or overly concerned about liability or nonexistent health rules. Do your best to roll with it and go on--that's the most important thing. Remember, if others have a problem with your bare feet, it's THEIR problem, not yours. You're not doing anything wrong.
I dunno, I just decided to take them off. I got no reactions. If I did I didn't notice... I was barefoot about half an hour in the store. The feel of tile on my feet was sooo sexy.... Tile and grass. Thanks you guys... I'm really enjoying this.
By November your soles will be like hard leather and you will not even know where those flip flops are. Enjoy your first adult barefoot summer!
my soles are already pretty hard and tough. Dancing has really toughened them up. The other day I walked across the gravel/tar parking lot at school and it didn't really bother me. It felt pretty cool.
i dont know about all of your states and stuff but it is illegal to drive barefoot here, i dont know why, my driver's ed. teacher dont even know *shrugs*
where are you at ? it is NOT illegal to drive barefoot in ANY state in the US. check out www.barefooters.org and look under the topic of driving barefoot. You'll find letters from most of the states department of transportation stating that it is not illegal to drive barefoot.
Congrats and welcome to the land of barefooters. A lot of individuals who enjoy the freedom, liberation, and comfort of being barefoot everywhere. About the concern you have for the appearance of your feet - I'm sure they're better than most. You said that you went barefoot a lot as a kid and that made your feet wider. The truth is that the rest of the shod world who's had there feet crammed in tight shoes are the ones with the unnatural deformities. Your feet are the ones with a rare natural beauty. “The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art” Leonardo da Vinci As far as barefooting in public - You have got to visit the Society for Barefoot Living" at www.barefooters.org if you havent already. They have tons of info and links to helpfull sites and forums for people to discuss life as barefooters. My favorite part is the letters from every State in the U.S.'s health Department ststing that there are no regulations regarding customers and bare feet. I find this very usefull since, on the rare occation that some foot phoebic makes an issue, They usually try to blame it on the state. How great to be able to enlighten them. "What spirit is so empty and blind, that it cannot grasp the fact that a human foot is more noble than the shoe and human skin more beautiful than the garment with which it is clothed." Michelangelo Enjoy being barefoot and go at your own pace. Also know that there are thousands more just like you who love being barefoot. “And forget not that the Earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” Kahlil Gibran Pete
