When I was a child the soles of my feet used to be hard at the end of each summer. I spent the entire summer barefoot running on gravel covered roads, tracks covered with pine-needles and cones (ouch!) and green lush grass. I could walk on almost anything. My absolute favorite was walking a sun-warm track covered in pine-needles on the islands in the Stockholm archipelago. The soft feeling of the pine-needles and the warmth under my feet was a delight.

As the years have gone by, I haven’t really walked barefoot for extended periods so of course the soles of my feet have been more tender.

This year, though, I have taken every opportunity to walk barefoot wherever I’ve been, on the sandy beaches in Sweden, in the pine-tree forests, along the rivers in Switzerland or just at home on our gravelled walkway or on our lawn.

I’ve realized that it gives me a lot of good energy. My feet get stronger, my balance improves and most importantly I feel alive and aware of what nature brings to me.
I love feeling the different textures of hard or soft and the shift in temperatures of cold or warm.

My husband cannot see the joy in being barefoot. His tender feet can’t stand it. I keep telling him that it’s good for him. It builds muscle and it helps improve balance and increase awareness.

Now I’m asking you when was the last time you threw of your shoes and felt the soil under your feet?
Perhaps the sensation will surprise you.

Be Bold, Be Courageous, and Be Brilliant!