I LOVE Tom's Shoes. I like their message, I like their effort, I love the simplicity of the one-for-one concept {we donate a pair of shoes for every pair you buy}. If I could I'd mandate that everyone buy one pair just for the simple fact that it would mean so many little feet would have something to wear.
They have a challenge coming up. April 16, leave your shoes by the door; go without. It's just a way to remind us of how important, how imperative, it is to have a pair of shoes to wear from here to there. Especially if your here to there is miles and miles and it's the only way you get food and water.
This challenge brings up a lot of old memories for me. Nothing as spectacular or philanthropic. When I was 20 I got a tattoo on my foot. I was told it wouldn't be guaranteed if I wore shoes {all the rubbing could cause the colors to bleed or fade quickly} for about a month. No shoes for a month? Well, I could have worn flip flops but it was January so it didn't make much more sense than going barefoot.
So I went barefoot. On campus at Utah State University the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" policy wasn't enforced. I tell people you could wear a gold lame bikini to school there and no one would say a thing. After a few weeks with no shoes my feet became very tough. They braved cold weather, different surfaces, things being dropped on them. By the time a month had passed and I could wear shoes again, I just didn't feel like it. Minus a few occasions, I figure I spent about a year shoeless, toe rings and all.
But that was my choice. And I didn't have to walk miles in volcanic soil just to take a sip of water. Come April 16, I'm going shoeless. I may have to warn people at work so I don't get called into HR for some dress code violation. If you are in a position to go shoeless on April 16, join me.
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3 comments:
What a cool idea! Unfortunately, with my 3 mile-a-day city streets walk it isn't viable or very safe for me...Maybe I could modify it and wear flip flops instead?
Oh my gosh!! Everything is making sense now!! My sophomore year at Utah State I would see this guy walking around without shoes in the middle of winter! My English class was all going to pitch in to buy him flip-flops.
I must find that shoeless guy on campus. It's rare to find someone who also chose to go without shoes in the dead of winter. I imagine he's pretty rad.
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