We savor flavors, and smells, and gaze long upon beautifull sights, but it seems to me that people very frequently ‘tune out’ their sense of touch. Obviously we all use it constantly to help us handle things - to do everything - typing, brushing our teeth, opening doors, handing over money, getting dressed, etc. etc. but much of the information our skin senses is processed on automatic pilot, or even subconsciously. How often do you pause and direct all your attention to what you are feeling? There is so much to experience, so much beauty to enjoy through your skin. It is, afterall, the part of you that is in most contact with the world around you. Perhaps that is why it is too easy to take it for granted, because you recieve so much of that sort of information constantly it becomes ‘white noise’. But just try it. Right now, focus all your attention into your skin, stop and let your fingers slide over your keyboard, let them take in the bumps created by the letters, the texture of the plastic. Feel the soft warmpth of your hair against your neck. Feel the fabric of your clothes against you. Don’t neglect your feet, though they are so far away from your mind. Take in the texture of the carpet, or rub them against eachother and feel the smoothness of the skin on the top, the roughness of the callouses. Do you ever think about these things, do you ever stop and savor the things you handle every day?

This is part of why I love to go barefoot. I love to experience all the different textures on the ground. People often ask ‘doesn’t it hurt’ or assume ‘but you’ll hurt your feet, what if you step on glass!’ Indeed I have stepped on glass, indeed sometimes it hurts. But that is only a small part of what they miss by huddling in their shoes. I have walked through dust so soft and smooth and sweet, like velvet, I have slid across refreshing metal, and basked in the sweet sumptuous softness of certain kinds of pavements. Yes, concrete can be soft. Asphalt can rise up to cradle your feet in a warm embrace, the little bumps nestling perfectly into the nooks of your toes. There is one section of newly repaved crosswalk near my home that is like satin, yes! satin, so smooth and soft and inviting, I long to pause in the middle of the road and slide my feet across it, to revel in the sensation; crossing it just once is far too briefe.

I have found that sometimes things will hurt less when you simply relax and accept the sensations. When the ground is too hot, stop hopping, and just feel it soak up your legs and wash over you, let your feet melt into the ground. When the ground is rough, stop twitchlly picking your way, and simply experience the bumps and points and scratching. You can make slight adjustments to where you put the preasure, so that even when stepping on something pointy, it won’t cut. Learn how to walk, taking heed of the ground on which you tread. Then you shall find it easier to avoid the painfull sensations when you know where and how to put preasure. Enjoy the flexibiliy, the freedom your feet have un-emprisoned. I find it is so much easier to move gracefully when they are not bound to a stiff sole. Feel the motion they have, the way you can grip with your toes, the way your feet can bend and twist and spring and flow!

Perhaps at first unaccustomed feet would become sore, but trust me, it’s worth getting used to it. It’s so much more interesting to feel all the bumps and cracks and texture than to be constantly locked away with only one sensation all day. Do not forget your feet, but reach out with them to this world they anchor you upon as it rises up to meet them. Feel the connection between yourself and this earth, let the two skins meet, and brush, and come to know one another. Let your senses sink down roots and feel yourself growing up out of the earth. Let this mother earth feel your kisses as you walk upon her.