Yes! Through going to work barefoot, I managed to get two girls in my office to be barefoot. Although they weren't ready to be barefoot all the time, they did get put on the right path. Also, I knew a girl who liked to play with her shoes all the time and I convinced her to skip the shoes and go straight to bare. She can't go to work barefoot because she is a nurse, but she always kicks off the shoes immediately after work. With a little suggestion and some support I truly believe we can get more barefooters everywhere and we can smile and live our lives the way we want to.
Yes I have! Once at an evening function for work a coworker and I both showed up in flip flops. She mentioned that we were probably the two most comfortable people there. I told her we'd be even more comfortable if we weren't wearing the flip flops and she agreed. This started a discussion about going barefoot - which she always did around the house, but nowhere else. I am happy to say that now she goes barefoot just about everywhere and is trying to get her husband to do likewise.
Actually, I had kind of a "monkey see, monkey do" moment over the weekend. I was sitting in City Hall Park, enjoying an iced cappucino(sp?) under my favorite tree with my shoes kicked off. A few meters away from me, a man about my age was sitting in the grass with his shoes and socks on, seeming quietly fascinated with my bare feet. Well, after gawking at them for about 10 minutes, he decided to "free his feet" by kicking off his socks shoes. About a half hour later, he put himself back together and left, but I did find it pretty cool that he decided to kick off his socks and shoes after observing me.
I have noticed that we are being noticed quite a lot. I don't know how much effect it has. Most of the attention I get in public is nice---being checked out, usually by young women and girls. I can only hope my presence helps form favorable opinions, but I may never know.
I have influenced a few of my co-workers on some construction sites to get barefoot. Let me explain. Before and after my work shift I'm barefoot. I'm a big man (6'8+, size 16 feet). I arrive barefoot and leave barefoot. I have to wear boots at work because of the safety requirements of my job. My co-workers on a job site in TX, asked me why I was always barefoot when I came to work ans as soon as I finished. I told them I was raised by naturist parents and never wore footwear (let alone clothes) for most of my life. I hate wearing footwear, and being barefoot frees my feet. A couple of the guys and I went to a park one day after work and I got them to get barefoot, we played with a frisbee, etc. Our feet got very dirty, but they enjoyed it, and before I left that job site I wasn't the only man coming and going to work barefoot! Anything's possible even to thse that yo umay not think would do it!!!
For about 13 years I lived next door to a woman 16 years older than me who would often be barefoot outside during the summer months. I was always envious of her because it looked so comfortable, yet she didn't seemed embarrassed in any way by going barefooted. As a young male struggling to get over my foot shyness, doing the same was yet difficult at best. Luckily the "seed" was there as I was comfortable enough to wear flip flops in public. After too long, my neighbors' barefooting finally got the best of me and then I said to myself, "ok shoes and socks off ya go!" Never looked back since. Thanks Jane!
I think it's natural to become more comfortable barefoot when you see others doing it. I mean, who wouldn't rather not wear shoes? I know some people out there have issues with feet, but by and large I believe that most people would be happier barefoot. It's so unfortunate that some odd stigma prevents a good many people from enjoying true comfort. It shows how important forums like this are to encourage people, along with offering a chance to share wonderful experiences. Barefooters will always be few and far between, but we can pick up some more along the way, and hey, it sure is great to have the support network!
I've also had some "monkey see monkey do" moments, all on my regular Humber bridge hike over the last few years. A young couple passed me going in the opposite direction, and the girl said to the man "that's a good idea" and when i looked back both had taken their shoes off. Then there was a middle aged man wearing sandals, who took them off the moment he saw me, and this year, a young man wearing flip-flops who did exactly the same. I don't know how far they got, though, the Humber bridge footpath is a bit rough for beginners. (Assuming they are beginners...)
