For nearly a year, I've been following a seven-mile barefooting route that takes me through the city's largest park and into a pedestrian-friendly "old town area." Both places are in fairly safe parts of town, and people are inclined to stop and chat. (My compulsion to fuss over people's dogs works as an icebreaker.) Not infrequently, they remark on my discalced state, and always in a approving tone. Comments tend to run along the lines of, "When I was growing up by the beach (or in the mountains, or in some rural area) I lived barefoot. I wish I could do that again." My answer: "You can! Watch where you're going, and you won't step in anything sharp or nasty." As far as I know, I haven't made any converts. But I'm increasingly hopeful. Just thought I'd share that.
Go Booga! That's awesome! The other day I was wearing flip flops to campus because I had a sinus infection, it got cold, and I just didn't feel tough enough to handle the colder weather. One professor randomly asks me why I'm wearing slippers, that he noticed me going barefoot, and commented that it was better for the feet to go barefoot. He wasn't barefoot, though, which is too bad.
You are an inspiration. Planting the thought that they CAN do what they may secretly wish, or regret that they no longer do. Sometimes that's all it takes. We live in a world that is no doubt far different than their younger, carefree days. It may not be possible for them to adopt a 100% barefoot lifestyle. It is not right to demand of anyone a lifestyle change, however, showing that it IS possible to be more comfortable is certainly admirable.
When I last visited Hong Kong, many older people where delighted to see me walking barefoot, smiling and nodding or giving the "thumbs up".
Well, this German guy succeeded in converting 3 English speaking tourists in Berlin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrp0Nf1F6Eo The video is mostly in German, but the scene I'm referring to is at the end, starting around 2'10".
