The more I go about my day to day life barefoot, the more I have found that people don’t understand it. I have listened to people tell my friend she is “disgusting” for walking around with no shoes on. Others will tell me there is no reason for me to not wear shoes. But we who choose to live this way not only are not disgusting, but we have perfectly valid reasons for living the way we do. The first reason being because we want to. There really should be no reason why you need to bother even asking. We don’t ask you why you choose to wear shoes because frankly, it is none of our business.

But if you want to know why I have taken on the barefoot life, like many others I know, then here it is. It makes me feel comfortable. I personally like the way the ground feels whether it is pavement, dirt, mud, you name it. I would rather get my toes dirty than wear shoes. I have never owned a pair of shoes that didn’t hurt my feet after a long day. Unless I’m going inside somewhere I don’t wear any. My feet don’t hurt the way they used to and I think my feet are much cuter than shoes. Plus I only have to buy one pair of shoes in a year, usually just new boots for winter.

It also makes me feel safer. When I hike mountains I am able to grip things with my feet that everyone else slips on. I can feel if a rock moves before I put all my weight on it in a way that I cannot with shoes on. According to runbare.com “By feeling the ground, people begin waking up the vestibular system (balance system) of the brain, stimulating new neural connections and remapping their minds for greater balance.” You are more in tune with yourself and the earth as you hike barefoot. And being barefoot is not as dangerous as people think. As long as you stay aware and watch where you walk, you will be fine. The last time I got a splinter from being barefoot, I was inside. I get told all the time that people wish I would just put shoes on because they worry about my safety. There is no danger in letting your toes free.

Being barefoot is just all around a simple thing. When I get dressed, I picture my outfit with me barefoot. If I’m going somewhere, I have one pair of sandals or boots that I wear. It’s one less thing I think about when doing things. I don’t have to worry about having good sneakers that won’t cause damage to my feet over time while I hike or exercise. I just don’t wear any. And I know it’s not for everyone, but if you think you’re able to just leave your house with no shoes, I would recommend it. It’s a lifestyle you can benefit from that can overall improve your health. And let’s not forget how adorable barefoot sandals are.