I Like to Be Barefoot
Today I couldn't stand it any longer. I've been out in the garden in bare feet for my daily grounding time each morning but I haven't had any full on contact with the ground for what feels like a long time so this morning I took myself off to my favourite place to walk and shed my shoes for a barefoot stroll.
Usually, I'd go to the park nearby but I went to the beach/waterfront instead. I didn't want grass. I wanted something more substantial. I wanted the ground up glass of sand and the time worn rocks. I wanted the cold sea air on my toes and the transition from beach to boardwalk to pavement.
If course, I got the funny looks. Especially when I first sat down to take off my shoes. I got some actual questions from some people but I didn't even care. I felt so much better once the soles of my feet were in contact with the ground. I felt like I could breathe.
Yes, it was cold and for that first moment, my toes curled under, arching my feet away from the concrete slabs. But that first moment was also electric. Because I felt something. And a few steps later once I was on my way down the stone steps to the beach, feeling the change in texture, the way the steps were more worn in the middle, the rippled edge worn smooth from use, I felt calm.
I walked on the beach for a while. On sand. Even on the cold, compact sand where the tide had gone out, where its hard and rippled and broken shells stick out here and there. My boyfriend hates this part of the beach. He says it's impossible to walk on. But he has delicate feet. He never walks barefoot except on the beach or indoors. I love this part of the beach. I kind of like the way it's uncomfortable to walk on. It was funny, seeing my bare foot prints across the sand amongst the shoe prints.
I walked across the pebbly, rocky part of the beach as well. And then I ended up walking up the boardwalk and onto the main front which is a long stretch of paved pedestrian area that runs all along the waterfront. I walked for maybe 45 minutes all the way along to a park where there's a little stall that sells drinks and ice cream etc and has seating outside. There were a couple of dog walkers there. I ended up getting myself a hot chocolate and settling down with a book for a while, completely relaxed.
I totally forgot I was barefoot until a woman sat down at the next table and said "sorry love but aren't your feet freezing?"
I was confused and had to look at my feet, which must have made me look like an idiot. I just said "no, not really".
She asked why I wasn't wearing my shoes and I explained that I felt more relaxed when I'm barefoot and sometimes like to take a walk without shoes to ground myself and recalibrate. Her friend arrived at the table then and she said "I bet you'd be into this! This lady goes walking in bare feet to relax. It's the kind of woo woo stuff you're into".
I rolled my eyes, expecting to be mocked but the friend was like "oh, grounding, yeah that's really cool. I've been meaning to look into it."
After that I stayed barefoot for the 10 minute or so walk to the bus stop and then put my shoes back on. But I honestly feel as though the tension that's been with me for the past week has lifted. People really don't give grounding the credit it's due.
Usually, I'd go to the park nearby but I went to the beach/waterfront instead. I didn't want grass. I wanted something more substantial. I wanted the ground up glass of sand and the time worn rocks. I wanted the cold sea air on my toes and the transition from beach to boardwalk to pavement.
If course, I got the funny looks. Especially when I first sat down to take off my shoes. I got some actual questions from some people but I didn't even care. I felt so much better once the soles of my feet were in contact with the ground. I felt like I could breathe.
Yes, it was cold and for that first moment, my toes curled under, arching my feet away from the concrete slabs. But that first moment was also electric. Because I felt something. And a few steps later once I was on my way down the stone steps to the beach, feeling the change in texture, the way the steps were more worn in the middle, the rippled edge worn smooth from use, I felt calm.
I walked on the beach for a while. On sand. Even on the cold, compact sand where the tide had gone out, where its hard and rippled and broken shells stick out here and there. My boyfriend hates this part of the beach. He says it's impossible to walk on. But he has delicate feet. He never walks barefoot except on the beach or indoors. I love this part of the beach. I kind of like the way it's uncomfortable to walk on. It was funny, seeing my bare foot prints across the sand amongst the shoe prints.
I walked across the pebbly, rocky part of the beach as well. And then I ended up walking up the boardwalk and onto the main front which is a long stretch of paved pedestrian area that runs all along the waterfront. I walked for maybe 45 minutes all the way along to a park where there's a little stall that sells drinks and ice cream etc and has seating outside. There were a couple of dog walkers there. I ended up getting myself a hot chocolate and settling down with a book for a while, completely relaxed.
I totally forgot I was barefoot until a woman sat down at the next table and said "sorry love but aren't your feet freezing?"
I was confused and had to look at my feet, which must have made me look like an idiot. I just said "no, not really".
She asked why I wasn't wearing my shoes and I explained that I felt more relaxed when I'm barefoot and sometimes like to take a walk without shoes to ground myself and recalibrate. Her friend arrived at the table then and she said "I bet you'd be into this! This lady goes walking in bare feet to relax. It's the kind of woo woo stuff you're into".
I rolled my eyes, expecting to be mocked but the friend was like "oh, grounding, yeah that's really cool. I've been meaning to look into it."
After that I stayed barefoot for the 10 minute or so walk to the bus stop and then put my shoes back on. But I honestly feel as though the tension that's been with me for the past week has lifted. People really don't give grounding the credit it's due.
41-45, F
