Every year thousands of people around the globe willingly walk around barefoot for a day. Why? To raise awareness for children’s health and education (Find out more about the event on the official webpage: onedaywithoutshoes.com). I am totally for public demonstrations, especially if they support an amazing cause. But going without shoes, no thank you!
Or at least that’s how I’ve felt in years past. However, this year something in me changed. I really felt called to be a part of the event. So, I committed to it on April 16 (not until the morning of I must admit).
I was extremely hesitant at first. “What will people think?” “Will anyone try to stop me and tell me I have to put on my shoes?” “Can I actually handle being barefoot all day?” I figured I couldn’t be the only with these questions and concerns, so I decided to share my experience with the public about what it’s like to actually go without shoes for a full day.
9:30 a.m. – I’ve officially made the decision to go without shoes for the day. I write “ONE DAY!” across my feet, as an easy way to show people why I am barefoot (most people have heard of the Tom’s event). I even shared my decision to go without shoes on twitter and had people responding, doubting me. I coudn’t convince my tweethearts that I was actually committing to it until I gave them photographic evidence.
10:00 a.m. – I arrive at Arizona State University for a full day of classes. I’m super nervous about people’s reactions. I wonder to myself if I’ll have to explain to my professors why I’m not wearing shoes. I walk out of my parking garage and already hear people “whispering” (they weren’t very quiet) and laughing about my lack of shoes. Luckily the stoplight changed and I was able to get on with my day.
10:15 a.m. – I walk into one of the bathrooms at ASU and want to cry when my feet touch the wet floor. However, I realize that kids around the world probably don’t even have indoor plumbing, and a wet floor is the least of their sanitation worries. However, I do avoid drinking a lot of liquids for the rest of the day to avoid the bathroom epidemic.
11:15 a.m. – I meet up with my friend Chloe and we head over to Here on the Corner to sign the official “One Day Without Shoes” pledge. The boutique was so sweet, offering nail polish or t-shirts to anyone who participated. They also gave us breakfast and water to help us make it through the day. We were able to see the names of all the other Tempe participants who had signed the pledge and felt more motivated knowing we weren’t alone.
1:20 p.m. – I walk to my next class with my friend Katrina. I’m able to talk to her about why One Day Without Shoes is important, and why I felt the need to participate this year. I also realize for the first time how far apart my classes are! At this point, my feet were really starting to burn.
1:40 p.m. – After the shortest class meeting ever, one of my classmates stopped me to ask about why I was barefoot. We had never spoken before, but he said his sister posted something about it on Facebook and he was intrigued. I was able to share the story and important mission of the event.
The rest of my day consisted of more classes and meetings. I was able to share the reason I was going barefoot with several more people. Because it’s not a typical thing to see someone walking around ASU without shoes, it gives you an opening to discuss the WHY behind what you’re doing. And that’s the whole point. Being barefoot isn’t the action. Being barefoot is the gateway to talking about the thousands of children suffering around the world and to start figuring out ways to do something about it.
6:00 p.m. – I’m finally home for the day, completely exhausted with very sore and very dirty feet. My sister and I head to the backyard to take some quick photos and I am able to share with her why it was so important for me to participate in One Day Without Shoes.
Being a participant in this event helped me to see shoes in a brand new way. They aren’t just an accessory, a fashion statement, or the easiest way to transform your outfit from day to night. They are a necessity. And everyone should have access to a pair of shoes to help them fight diseases and improve their quality of life. Gaining this new insight was worth all the pain my feet experienced that day.
To find out more about what you can do to support this mission, visit OneDayWithoutShoes.com
