Fitness

I Went Barefoot for a Year

Here’s what I learned

Photo by Magdalena on Unsplash

I’ve never really liked shoes. I am not totally against them, but I always wondered what it would be like to go totally shoeless. 2020 was a weird year. Working remote and staying indoors mostly, I saw an opportunity to make it weirder.

With only a few exceptions, I went barefoot for the year and learned some interesting things I want to share, in case you’re curious about trying.

Judgement

Society does not like feet. Shoes are what separates us from the animals, and most people don't care to be reminded about our relation. Walking outside with no shoes, I received an unexpectedly high amount of judgment, aversion, and disgust from the community in general. Many people would cross the street or divert their route when they could see I had no shoes. Going shoeless is like going keto or vegan. By doing something different than everyone else, you invite a barrage of reactions from the public. Anything from “Ooh, that’s interesting” to “Put on some damn shoes.”

This feels weird to me. Shoes are only a few hundred years old. A good portion of the world population still goes barefoot. I am shocked that most of us are so against it when it’s the most natural thing. As time went on and I got more used to being barefoot, I…