Some of you may know that I was homeschooled from kindergarten through my senior year of high school. While middle-school Allie DESPERATELY wished to go to public school, 23 year-old Allie wouldn’t trade her homeschool education for ANYTHING.
It allowed me to go at my own pace when I didn’t understand a concept. I didn’t have travel time between classes or a bus ride to and from school, which meant more time for creativity. I had a big say in what I learned and how I implemented my new knowledge.
There are SO MANY ASPECTS of my homeschool education that I’m incredibly grateful for, but there’s one aspect I know will surprise you.
I’m so grateful that I didn’t have to wear shoes.
It sounds so silly to say, but it’s true! Our feet are SO FOUNDATIONAL in our movement patterns, but traditional shoes don’t really accommodate for them to move the way they were designed to. Recent research has shown that many adults deal with ankle and foot problems (which contribute to other issues like knee injuries and glute weaknesses) because of having to wear shoes that didn’t allow their feet to develop the muscle stability they needed.
Because I was homeschooled, I spent most of my time barefoot. Moving and stretching and using my happy little toesies in all the many ways they were made to. To the point where they became a second set of hands at times!
And this very random, very silly little fact is part of what inspired this sketch.
I know many of you, like me, deal with chronic illness. It’s a life-long battle, and it’s one that can quickly become discouraging. It truly feels like your body is fighting against you. And in some ways it is. But when I become discouraged with my body, I like to think of things like this. To remind myself of the many ways that my body DOES work for me. To be grateful for all the many movement patterns its capable of and all the activities it allows me to do.