Dirty feet
Dirty feet
and respect for the soles that have harden by the trials of time
Normally I like my feet in socks, but today I let them get dirty, just like I used to when I was a child.
I have vivid memories of running barefoot on concrete, dirt accumulating under my feet as if it were the start of a parade route . I played and played with my cousins as we moved from grass to trampoline to tree.
My favorite game had to be Mother May I. I loved the nature of asking for commands that had to be granted in order to move forward in the game.
“Mother, may I take four steps forward?”
“No, you may not”.
If Mother replied that way during your turn, you’d definitely be annoyed.
Luckily for the others they’d have a chance to pass you by, making more and more steps forward. The next person could ask for eight steps, and mother might very well say yes.
Their feet off with the wind and yours stuck in place until it’s your turn to ask for a command again.
Nothing about dirty feet mattered back then. Mother Earth welcomed them with loving arms as we stomped around playing all the outdoor games. It was ritual for me to not have any shoes.
I remember one time when I was leaving, a mother walked out of her home, and then her son, who appeared to be at least three years old, ran out behind her with no shoes on.
“Where are your shoes?” She said in a playful tone.
The boy laughed. It’s obvious that being barefoot was his act of rebellion.
The mother and I made contact and smiled innocently over a pure and precious moment.
As I sit here with dirty feet in the humid Texas heat, I feel thankful for my journey. I hear the kids in my background playing “Not it”. A memory floods my brain. Oh yes,I remember now— we used to play that too. I look over my balcony to see how many of them are barefoot. I want to know if they resemble me and my deep Louisiana roots. To my surprise, they all have their shoes on, I feel no shame. The elders here always walk around barefoot in their beautiful saris, as if a pair of shoes never crossed their minds.
I retreat indoors, leaving my balcony, the kids, and outside where they are.
I feel called to pick up the broom, so I did, and start sweeping. It is the chore I enjoy doing the most. I usually wear socks or house slippers but there was something so liberating about sweeping barefoot. I listen out for every creak in the floor with every step. My feet whisper to me that “this is fine, this is natural you don’t need to cover us with anything”.
I’ve been experiencing so much resistance, inner turmoil, fear, and confusion. Oddly enough, sweeping makes me feel embodied, and I’m just coming to this realization.
Letting go is an active pursuit, and there’s something about sweeping out dust and dirt from corner to corner, room by room, that teaches me how essential it is to get rid of what’s unnecessary.
When you don’t it just clings to everything.
You see they say breath is life, and apparently so are bare feet.
My ancestors walked tenaciously on their feet, enduring sticks and stones with no respite, their soles hardened by the trials of time. My feet symbolize generations of evolution and sacrifice, a testament to the long journey of my bloodline. I honor this legacy. As I walk with bare, dirty feet, I will humble myself for this journey and pause in silence for the ones who came before me.
🌀Reflection Portal:
No question to contemplate today but I made a turmeric and ylang ylang body scrub and I’ve been using it on my feet every night just to give them extra love. Since Virgo season can help with sorting out what routines are sustainable, I think I want this one to stick.
🎵Listening to: Mundane Magic, a playlist I created for *writing* but most importantly when you are seeking to discover something new and magical in the mundane or within yourself. Feel free to listen and let me know about your experience.
📚Reading: Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel
Quantum Success: The astounding Science of Wealth and Happiness by Sandra Anne Taylor
always check your local library for books :)
🕸Feeling: Alive😆
If you enjoyed reading childlike and would like to support you can purchase the Adulting but Make it Childlike Tote. This is from my inner child to yours and she celebrates the inner child within you🥳
With Love,
Tiana
If you’re looking for a candid read, check out my previous piece💌
