How long have you been barefoot?
About a month and a half
Why did you decide to be barefoot?
I’m a massage therapist. I see people with Barbie feet and squished together toes every day. I don’t want to be like that. It’s also a step towards overall better health.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how “extreme” are you?
Maybe a 5? I go everywhere barefoot but I still put shoes on if the ground is too hot to walk on.
What is your opinion on shoes and socks?
I see them as 2 things. 1. A medical device or safety gear; as in if you actually need your feet covered and protected due to a medical condition or working around dangerous equipment then by all means wear them. 2. A tool; much like an umbrella. If it’s raining and you don’t want to get wet, grab an umbrella. It’s not that the water is going to hurt you, you just don’t want your clothes wet. Same for for shoes. The ground might not hurt me but maybe I don’t want dirty feet. Or like I said before, maybe it’s actually really hot and I don’t want to cook my feet.
Why do you think being barefoot is deemed as socially unacceptable?
Habit, mostly. And we have stigmatized feet as inherently unclean. Mostly because they get sweaty and stinky inside shoes. But also because they touch the ground (sometimes) I assume. But I wash my feet. When was the last time you washed your shoes?
Have you ever not been able to go in somewhere/refused service because you didn’t have shoes on?
Not yet. But I’m sure it will happen at least once.
How do you go about feet care?
I use a loofah in the shower to handle the super rough skin and I moisturize before bed. That’s about it.
Have you dealt with fetishers?
Not yet. It’s coming, I’m sure.
Do you walk on everything or are there surfaces you don’t walk on?
I’ll walk on anything as long as it doesn’t look dangerous. Like I’ll walk on the sidewalk, but not across the broken beer bottle. I’ll go around. I’m also wary of grass still. It could be hiding a lot of things and I haven’t built up a lot of toughness yet.
What is your favorite surface to walk barefoot on and why?
Asphalt and dry dirt. I just love the textures.
What are the worst things you’ve stepped on?
Those stupid little round burs. They really hurt.
Have you had any mishaps?
Got a splinter in my toe that I could get out for awhile. That hurt a lot. But it’s fine now.
How does being barefoot affect aspects of your life (love, career e.t.c)?
My husband doesn’t like it. It kinda grosses him out, but my feet are usually clean by bed time and they’re definitely better than our dogs feet.
What are your fears that stem from being barefoot?
I worry a little about hookworm or getting an infected cut. But I try to be careful and watch where I’m stepping at least.
What advantages of being barefoot have you experienced?
My legs stopped hurting at work. My feet too. I used to limp to my car and I would wake up the next day incredibly sore from my hips to my toes. That’s gone away. Also, if I don’t wear shoes I can’t waste money on them.
Give tips to new barefooters and people looking to go barefoot.
Just give it a shot. Listen to your body. If it hurts, stop or go slower or make adjustments. This isn’t something you power through. Your arch is a muscle and it needs to be exercised. You won’t get anywhere trying to bench 300lbs when the most you’ve ever lifted before is 45, you know? So if it sucks, slow down. That being said, some soreness is common in the first couple of weeks.
How do you wish our society would perceive and treat barefoot people?
Like we’re not insane. We just don’t like shoes.
What would you like people to know about being barefoot?
It’s really freeing. And it’s fun.