Being Barefoot in the Snow is a Gift from Mother Nature

Honestly, I feel sorry for people who don't have winter. They are missing out on one of the best seasons and the greatest form of Mother Nature: frozen in ice and snow.

All of my life I have been told to stay warm and that being cold is extremely uncomfortable and actually bad for you. It's going to make you sick or maybe even you'll "catch a death of a cold!" It's not true. As my teacher and mentor Wim Hof taught me, "The cold is your friend." It is a place where we can face the deepest part of our soul and connect to nature.

Being in snow in my barefeet taught me to face fear one step at a time. I was so worried about getting frostbite I couldn't relax. Over time I stayed out longer and longer and found I let go of fear and became aware of the sensations I was actually feeling. Once I was aware of the sensations, then I was in control of my situation and could decide at any point to go indoors or put on some shoes!

If you want to start a barefoot practice, begin by deciding you belive it's important to connect with nature, to have strong feet, and to face your fear of cold or stepping on something that might hurt you. Then start walking around your home barefoot. Notice the sensations and pay attention to what you are actually feeling. When you are ready, take a step outdoors. It doesn't matter if it is raining or snowing or windy. Just do it. When you have felt the sensations, come back indoors. Notice how long it takes for your feet to return to normal. Then do it again and again. It's not a competition but rather you want to create a practice. For Earthing/Grounding, you will want to stay connected to grass, dirt, rock or live water for 20-30 minutes a day a couple of times a week. Or whatever you can do.

Remember the ancestors. They only had moccasins most of the time and they treasured them so that they were only worn when absolutely needed. The soles of our feet never wear out!

My coat is handmade by Rebecca Kudloo, an Inuit artisan who has been president of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada since 2014. She was an adviser on the creation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. She worked for the Nunavut Department of Education and is a co-founder of Mianiqsijit, a counselling service responding to the residential school legacy of sexual abuse and family violence. I bought the coat at a second hand store in Muskoka and I am proud to wear it and share the stories of her mission. Read more about her here.

Happy Barefooting!

Barefoot Sue