How round are your toes?

Image by The Newb via Flickr

When I was a child, I remember looking at my mothers feet/toes and wondered why they were so square in shape. The sides were perfectly vertical and pressed together like stacked bricks. Of course my toes, as a child, were still round. Each one separate from the other, soft and smooth. Now that I'm older and after years of wearing shoes, my toes have also taken on the pressed look of bricks laying side by side. Recently I have wondered if those people who live in warmer climates have round toes vs square toes. It would stand to reason that they do. Logic would dictate that people who live in warmer climates go barefoot or ware sandals more often then those who live in cooler climates. This being the case I also wonder if people who live in warmer climates have a more laid back attitude and approach to life. Again, logically I would think that being barefoot or wearing sandals or flip flops would encourage a person to me more casual and laid back then one who was wearing dress shoes or boots to protect themselves from the elements. Not to mention the rest of the clothing that naturally goes with casual foot ware IE: shorts, t-shirts or tank tops or no shirt at all. It seems that when a person takes off their shoes, they suddenly become less stressed, more relaxed and more open to leisurely activities. It isn't that the stress they were facing before they removed their shoes has suddenly disappeared, on the contrary, it is still very much apart of their thoughts and fears. However, being barefoot seems to cause us to not take things quiet as serious. It seems to help us say "I know there is a problem but right now I need to relax, rest my feet, rest my mind and let go; even if it is just for a few minutes". I don't know but I suspect there is some correlation between going barefoot and longevity of life or at the very least overall contentment of life. Someday I hope I can again return to being barefoot in an attempt to bring my toes back to their natural roundness and along with it a well rounded attitude for life.

I'm Dad--and I'm just saying, take your shoes off.