I grew up in an island, and on my first months here in the UK in summer of 2023, I was able to do barefoot walks in the park, not until winter, that I started to loook for fivefinger shoes. I do barefoot to ground myself, massage, and hopefully reverse my feet to its original state. Growing up in the island, my parents bought the best looking rubber and school shoes for me. I was even praised by people and would always be chosen by my teachers as the model student for having nice looking feet, different from my classmates who never wore a shoe in their lives. Discovering the barefoot revolution and its benefits, barefoot has become a lifestyle for me.
I grew up in an island, before pandemic I started to religiously walk on barefoot, except wearing my work shoes in a community health center as a rural nurse. When pandemic hit worldwide, online shopping became a thing and a found a seller of Vibram shoes in Philippines' capital Manila, but I found it too expensive for me with a minimum salary, the shoes costs half of my one month salary. And then I was fortunate to work in the UK, and 3 months later, in January 2024, I got my new FiveFingers. When the delivery man handed it to me, I could not believe it as it is lightweight and felt like a toy. I planned to use it only during breaks at my work as a home care nurse, but the moment I opened and tried it, I never stopped wearing it, everyday, at work, at the gym, on the road, anywhere. But since it is not waterproof, I have a Vivobarefoot boots on alternate.
3.How do you respond to people who don't understand the benefits?
I have had quite a lot of encounters with people who do not have a single idea of barefoot revolution. I was walking in one park, and I got all the look from passersby, three standouts for me: 1) A little girl with her mum just said "Wow!" and it got the attention of everyone around, 2) I was reading a book, barefoot on the grass, when a group of loud teen footballers walked past me and one of them noticed me, called everyone shouting "Look, he is on barefoot!" One by one started to approach me, shook my hands, and I just smiled, 3) One by one, my colleagues of more than 20 started to notice my Vibram FiveFingers, asking questions like "Are those scuba shoes?", "Are you crazy?", "Where did you buy those gloved shoes?", "I don't even know it existed here in the UK!"
Thru an online search. But the first photo I saw was with a model on the runway.
I have a vivobarefoot boots.
PS: Before Vibram, I am a Converse guy. But now I don't know what to do with my converse, and I used to like Superga as well. I also think if I ever give gifts, I'd like to choose barefoot shoes, to give my loved ones the comfort that they truly deserve.
