Barefoot

Anyone who knows me at all will know that i am normally found without shoes. I realize that this is unusual behavior for the culture of Columbia South Carolina. While this is completely normal feeling for me, others feel differently. Some are indifferent to the idea and accept it as me being strange and no more. Some people are for it and encourage the idea, still some find me this lifestyle disgusting as being barefoot normally leads to dirty feet. When asked about why I choose to boycott shoes on a normal basis, i normally respond with an interesting, yet semi shallow half-truth answer "I was raised in Hawaii." Fact, i did live in Hawaii, but only for a year, it is also true that people there really don't wear shoes that often. I didn't even have to wear them to school! But living there for one year doesn't really classify me as "being raised there" but something about that culture has been engraved into my very being. So this being my shallow answer, I will now go forth and reveal the deeper truer side of barefootedness. 

In essence the whole idea is actually extremely metaphorical to the way i see life. I have been blessed and cursed with the need to explore. Now when i say need, I really mean need. I cannot sit still. I cannot accept humdrum existence. I must adventure, I must see the world, and new experiences are like air to me. While on a backpacking trip with two very close friends i was given the name Walkabout, and the definition of the name Scott is actually "wanderer." I have found that my number one passion in this world is adventure. Not just adventure like epic quests, yes i love those. But there is potentially adventure in everything. New opportunities for experience everywhere. I am so desperate for the feeling of experience, and sucking the juice out of life that even unpleasant experiences are welcome. I say this because while yes, unpleasant experiences are at the moment well unpleasant, later those times can be used in contrast with something good, and it makes that something good so much better. It is also that you would otherwise never have known. Comparatively gravel and grass hold very different textures. But if you've only walked on grass your whole life, you would never appreciate that feeling compared to the hard gravel. This is where bare feet come into play. 

For all practical purposes I will compare life to a hiking trail. (typical Scott, yes i know w/e). Regardless of what you do, you will experience during your hike. There are exausting uphill climbs, relaxing slopes, and all sorts of other things that you will classify as good or bad experience. Now consider this, by taking your shoes off while hiking this path, you open up a door to all new levels of intimacy with life. I was on this one hike that i decided to do barefoot. the beginning of the trial was all gravel. It hurt. I won't lie about that. but then after about a half mile of tedious hiking, the gravel ended, and instead of rocks the path was covered with patches of this amazing moss. It felt better than the softest carpet you've ever walked on. The moss was great, and while the gravel hurt to walk on i left that hike with a perspective and experience that i believe few people have. So take this idea and apply it to everyday life. There is so much information to take in, so much to experience. The next time you walk by a bush, lift your arm up and run your hand along its leaves. The next time you see a big puddle go for it, and don't be afraid to take off your shoes.