Week 1 - Response

Since this week's association was of Nick's wife curled up comfortably (she looks so comfortable, I'm so jealous) on the couch in barefeet, and it made me long for just one day when I could veg out and do nothing (without being sick too), plus it also made me think of my particular aversion to wearing shoes. I've always felt that human beings shouldn't need to wear shoes, we didn't in prehistoric times, of course, and many tribes in the world still don't wear them. In India and China, many lower class members never wear shoes, particularly rickshaw drivers who run all day over cobblestone streets, paved and unpaved roads. Here's an article on a medical study done with this particular social group:

http://www.barefooters.org/medicine/j_natl_assoc_chir-49.html

In all cases, these people who run and walk great distances over hard terrain showed remarkably fewer medical foot problems, such as plantar fasciitis, bunions, bursitis, etc. In addition, people who have never worn shoes in their life have complete and full range of motion in the foot. So when you see me walking around barefoot in the office, don't freak out! Because, of course, I'm doing it for health reasons. ;-)

Here also is an article on how lack of rest relates to stress, which is of course, something we all know, but rarely heed (me in particular, and I think a few other people in this office should absolutely read this article). I've always had trouble with stress-related insomnia, and of course, not sleeping makes stress infinitely worse. I thought it was also interesting that it mentions to try to take a 2-week vacation instead of a 1-week vacation since you only start to relax after 1 week. I've never taken a 2-week vacation, but I'm strongly considering it now since I have a medical basis for it! :-)

http://www.mindtools.com/stress/Defenses/Rest.htm