It’s not very nice to stare at my feet
In the summer time, for better or worse, our feet come out of hiding.
It’s hard not to notice the bare feet peeking out of flip-flops, crocs, sandals and other seasonal footwear. While I run the risk of appearing as though I have a foot fetish (I certainly do not) it is remarkable to see how many colours and designs women are happily willing to paint on their toenails.
I try not to stare.
I was in a shoe store the other day. There certainly is something for just about any taste. Me? I’m not fussy.
I’m fairly pragmatic. As long as it offers proper support and is durable, I’ll go for it.
I do not like hard-soled shoes and will avoid them at any cost.
As a matter of fact, I’ve become a real fan of crocs. I’m wearing them right now.
My wife is not a vain person, nor does she obsess about the latest fashion trends.
But one day our family was preparing to head out the door for supper and I got a surprise. I was the last one to leave the house and was walking down the front steps when she stopped me.
Pointing at my feet she declared, “You are not leaving this house looking like that!” I wondered what the problem was. I had just put my crocs on over a pair of athletic socks. “No socks with crocs.” she said firmly.
I knew resistance was futile so I removed my socks. I still can’t figure out what was so bad about feeling relaxed. I thought about all those ridiculous high heels women wear just to look good or appear taller. No guy would ever do that.
Well, not all of them anyway. This got me thinking about how we care for our feet.
The journal Ergonomics says the human foot and ankle is a structure which contains at least 26 bones, 33 joints along with a large number of muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Conditions affecting feet can be warning signs of ailments like diabetes, circulatory disorders or nerve problems.
Most of us don’t pay attention to our feet until they start hurting.
By then we could have any number of problems.
I remember having to see a doctor for a planter’s wart on my heel. Man, was that painful. I had let it go to the point where it had to be surgically removed.
Many others have had corns, bunions, athlete’s foot, spurs or ingrown toenails.
Foot problems are one of the greatest sources of infection among those experiencing homelessness.
They are almost constantly on their feet and often wear inappropriate footwear. Regular foot washing and clipping toe nails is a luxury.
The Saul Sair Health Centre at Siloam Mission sees the results of damaged feet; skin disorders, wounds, ulcers and infections.
Untreated, this can lead to gangrene or even amputation. We are grateful to our friends at Canadian Footwear who regularly volunteer their professional services to help us spot these potential difficulties.
I was outside our building this afternoon and spotted a patron wearing winter boots.
It was all he had.
I wondered about his feet …
— Larry Updike is the senior advocacy and communications officer at Siloam Mission.
