My feet are dirty but happy

Confession: I am forever barefoot, even while making copies in my office. I don't like to wear shoes, and when I must, I try to stay away from standard functional shoes.

Luckily though, New York Magazine is reporting that barefoot and moccassin-type shoes are back on the "Healthy" list. I am a believer after this experience:

About three months ago, I was in need of new flip flops. I wandered around the shoe store, and stopped at the Reef display. I was extremely impressed by their arch, which is about 3/4" higher than the rest of the sole. $40 later, I thought my feet will be so happy this summer while caressing my new arched flip flops.

I left for Florida a few days later and wore them for a week straight. As I traipsed around to restaurants and the beach, I developed a limp. The seemingly glorious rubber and leather fulcrum felt like it breaking my foot bones with each step.

I assumed that my shoe habits had destroyed my feet and that I now had to undo the damage. Determined to break in my Reefs, I eventually pulled through. I also bought some Dr. Scholl's arches that I later realized wouldn't fit in my mocassins.

The article says though, that after studying different modern civilizations, those that do not wear shoes (Zulus, in this case) have the healthiest and most similar feet to those of our ancestors 2000 years ago. It explains how we and most of the world have ruined our feet and gait by applying padding, raised heels and arches to a tool that was originally only supposed to protect us from thorns and the occasional stubbed toe.

Damn, had it right the first time.

Original article: How We're Wrecking Our Feet With Each Step We Take