Let it be known that I hate shoes. Well, that’s not entirely true… I love buying them and looking at them, but not really wearing them. Regardless, walking barefoot is my preferred mode.   

On our walk my sweet little man, Kit, discovered bugs, buds and acquired an intriguing collection of pebbles. I took equal joy in pilfering a few glorious, fat camellias from some of the yards we passed. More importantly, I uncovered the joy of being truly grounded.   

Every pebble beneath my feet and every bit of grit between my toes reminded me of my ‘why‘. At the heart of all my decisions are connections to people and when my feet are pressed to the ground I feel truly connected to the earth and everyone. It’s an amazing feeling.   

Now, that all said, it’s also a great way to bring some semblance of normalcy to our busy lives.  Appreciating simple pleasures and natural miracles is a lovely way to inspire and rejuvenate our souls.   

People tell me I am not your average bear… and I have no idea why anyone would want to be. I‘ve been called Tweety because I whistle at work, weird because I’m compelled to hug everyone and over the top because I love to dress up in bright colourful outfits every day. It sure beats grey, navy or beige! At the end of the day when I feel the earth beneath my feet, I know this is the stuff that powers me. Connection, care and colour are the difference which ultimately gives me an edge. And when you connect with your youthful energy by taking joy in the small, gorgeous moments of life, you are powering up your creativity. Let’s face it, even if that fails you are likely to be having a better time!     

A few weeks back I defied the elements and walked to the station, onto the train and then to work barefoot. Everyone was miserable and looking at me as though I was barking mad.  Personally I thought my choice was pure genius. It was torrential and I arrived with wet feet. But you can dry your feet easily, whereas shoes take all day.   

A bad mood is almost guaranteed when you give in to the weather (or other people’s expectations, societal norms, or the banality of mediocrity).  By comparison, on that day my mood was almost euphoric. Instead of worrying about soggy shoes, I had a gorgeous time jumping in puddles. I arrived energised, optimistic and inspired. A lot got done that day! 

Sometime soon I‘ll tell you about back-to-front-days in our house and why I recommend turning convention on its head from time to time.  In the meantime, let’s #bringbarefootback. I promise you the worst that will happen is you‘ll have a great time (or maybe get a splinter).  More likely, you’ll discover simple pleasures and inspiration which will fuel your creativity, energy and productivity.   

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