Cyan of the Times

I had trained over the past 2 weeks for the WWWP5K, with the intention of it being my first FULL barefoot 5k… but then fate struck, and I ended up kayaking at LEAST 5k instead (barefoot, mind you, who needs shoes when kayaking anyways??)

I have to say that the time out on the lake with a few good people was much needed. Job transitions are stressful in this economy. Relationships are no laughing matter either. I need to get settled in one before I can have the other, true story.

One thing I attempted was a small scale trash pick up around the edge of the lake. While cruising along looking for deer and keeping an eye out for low branches I grabbed up some of the trash that would normally be inaccessible. The Oak Hollow Lake in High Point is even worse off, so I think I will make that one of my goals this summer, to go out on the that lake and do a trash sweep. I wonder about all the people that go walking and running to burn calories. Why don’t we walk around and pick up garbage or put time into making out communities more attractive? Why not volunteer to do manual labor instead of running on a treadmill to get some activity in our lives? I just think we need a higher purpose than smaller waistlines. I just think physical activity can be put to a purpose if we have the right mindset!

I think the WWWP5K was an AMAZING idea. It gets people to connect with one another and all come together around the world to work towards one small goal that unites us all. I hope to see more of that type of thing in the future. Especially with all the tools we have available on the net. Between FB, twitter, WP and all the photo sharing sites we can come together through the mighty # to connect and the internet becomes a lonely place no longer. All I can really say is… I’m excited about the ways we are able to connect with one another. # on twitter is genius and I hope to see it’s powers integrated into other forms of social networking. Oooh and… note to self: wear sunscreen next time.

WWWP5K

“Many people say my feet are too cold, the ground is too cold, my feet are too sensitive”.. They will become more sensitive. You will sense the temperature of the land even stronger, and when you sense the temperature of the land you are dealing with the temperance of your spirit and your emotions and your mind.

When we hook the foot in… 200,000 nerves… we begin to pull our consciousness back down into the earth again and to get a grip – a primal grip on our bodies. A primal ancestral memory that is in your body. In the beginning was the land; and that’s what manifested our foot and our body gestures…

You are an animal… “Animus” is spirited. Primal memory: that spring awakens it! That’s why our ancestors danced and drummed and sang.”

-Mick Dodge

I wanted to share this and put it here. I think he offers a really good point about walking. Barefooting changes your stride. You step down toes first in a springy manner. You don’t clunk down on your heel. You have to be cautious and mindful. I believe that this trained thinking way of walking is so important because it becomes a sort of meditation. You are forced to be in the Now. In the present moment. You are strolling with long strides, heels first with shoes as a barrier thinking about all your worries, past and future. You are walking with intention, knowing where you step, and thinking about that movement and touch. I love the term “ancestral memory”. DNA is a powerful thing. It’s a definition of us and it’s based on thousands of years of breeding and existence on this planet. You don’t have to believe we came from monkeys to know that we are made as a partner to this plant and have a genetic lineage of at least several thousand years (or more depending on your beliefs on creation, which is irrelevant… no matter in which way we were created, the relationship is still the same).

People always look at my Vibrams, and ask me if I like them. I can’t even begin to explain how much I love them. They’ve changed my life in some way and healed my aching knees. The only thing better than those shoes, are my own two feet.

Just to feel is such a revolutionary thing. We are all numbed by our poor sleeping patterns, processed foods, and fueled by Grande Carmel Machiattos instead of our own energy. We’ve forgotten what it is to be ALIVE. To be human. We always use the term “human” to describe flaws. “Oh well, he’s only human.” Being human should not be an error. It should be a force, the essence of who we are. We need to cultivate it. Embrace it. CIRCADIAN rhythms… are so important. I started sleeping with my blinds up and curtains open and now I wake up with the sun, early and fresh. And God said, “Let there be light”. That was the beginning of everything. The sun. It warms us, fuels us, wakes us, and puts us to bed. Don’t block it out with curtains and deny it’s importance in your livelihood.

I see so many sick sick people everyday. I myself have spent far too much of my life in disease, with chronic allergies and sinus problems which I’ve recently learned were from the gut irritants found in wheat. Now, I’m healing myself through food and exercise and being ALIVE. I’m loving myself with every bite I take and every step. I’ve experience a true joy that I had lost. And I want so much to share this with all the people I see who are sick, fatigued, stressed and not in love with themselves and their life.

I write all this here because I feel like it’s so relevant to what I do. I create. I’m finding my path. I’m currently teaching which is an amazing experience. But a huge part of my life as a designer, is my being a human and learning to support my body in order to support my mind and be the best possible version of myself. To be healthy, and to succeed. I don’t want wealth in this life, but I do want to make a difference. To be a force of good. I’m going to lead with my intentions, and the rest will follow by faith.

Well… after barefooting through the winter and being trapped by my Vibrams I think it’s time to go out and try and find some warmth. I’m so so happy spring is here.

Lastly, here is the mantra Mick Dodge learned in his training:

Dance as Fire,
Run As Wind,
Grip into the Stone,
And Balance as the flow of Water within.
Train in these four ways while touching the earth with your naked feet.
And with your Touch Wide open,
Your Mind Wide Open
The Earth will teach!

This is a little demo I threw together in Photoshop for my students. I may do another one. Not sure how I feel about this one. But I figured I would post it.

I’ve been training to barefoot run lately and went on my first barefoot hike through the woods the other weekend when it got warm enough. I created this piece as sort of an homage to bare-footers and to Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila, who won an Olympic marathon while running barefoot. He was also the first black African to win a gold medal and opened the doors for a lot of other African athletes and champion runners.

I have to give a photo credit – the barefoot runner shown here is actually Colin from Fifth Ape – check out his blog – it’s amazing.

You are the Machine - Abebe Bikila