Barefoot Interview #21: Netherlands' Jolanda

There are many different people from all over the world who like going barefoot. Some people like doing it as a hobby. On the other hand, other people who go barefoot as a tradition or as a part of their culture. Apparently, there are many who like going barefoot are unable to share their stories. So, this will be a long interviewing series and talking to people who are from all over and let them speak about their barefooting. So, welcome the newest barefoot interviewee, Jolanda. Jolanda who is a creative and pagan barefooter from Burgum, Nederlands and born in 1986. Here is what she had to say about being barefoot.


Do you have any barefooting recommendations?

• If you are not yet comfy with being barefoot everywhere you do so ie. you are still very self conscious about it, somehow people notice this and are more likely to comment on it.
• It even seems to me that the level of self-consciousness is instigating the amount of the more negative comments.
• If in college, then I know fellow students can be harsh, so school could be a though place to be barefoot.

In your opinion, what is the best way, that you know, how to be barefoot?

• Push yourself to be comfortable with being barefoot step by step.
• Try a new place to be bare.
• Say to yourself that it is perfectly normal and good (because it really is).
• Try not to notice/look for people noticing your bare feet.
• Learn to deal with barefoot comments in a polite way (it can be a nice conversation starter).
• Act like it is perfectly normal, like you've been barefoot all your life and know no better and steadily it will not be an act anymore.

What is the most important thing when it comes to going barefoot?

• Listen to your feet.
• If the surface you are walking on is still too much for your feet, don't force yourself to go on walking on it (barefoot).
• You will regret it otherwise (it could even mean not being able to be barefoot for some days).
• When your feet say no even at the start of the day, give them some leeway. It could be from having pushed them a bit too much, or more often, that your whole body has had some kind of minor health deprivation (little sleep, a cold, stress, tiring day, etc.).
• Other times when you are out and about and have taken a break and want to go on again, it can happen that the first few minutes your feet will feel tender, but this will soon go away.

Any preventive warnings?

• If you life in a part of the world where the summers get hot; take some flip-flops with you.
• With those high temperatures the asphalt can be so hot as to burn your feet. It could even stick to them, and that is a searingly unpleasant experience.  (even dogs can get burns from it)
• With no flip-flops, and no way to avoid it:  the white lines are a bit cooler/take small fast steps
• It gets better with time, but still, burned feet are a nasty discomfort.

Conclusion.
I do thank Jolanda for taking the time and answering these questions and as well as supporting that going barefoot is actually a good and healthy thing. Tune in next time when someone else in another country talks about their likes on barefooting. Remember, speak your mind and comment down below.