A day without shoes.

Ok, so this was pretty difficult for me. I spent the day running errands barefoot. It was a hot sticky morning, and a wet, muddy afternoon- not bad for just one day without shoes.

But for many kids around the world, this is most certainly not the case. Imagine being without shoes everyday- possibly contracting all kinds of soil-transmitted diseases, like hookworms or jiggers. And infections that just get worse when there is no clean water to help wash them away.

I took my shoes off for one day to spread awareness about the importance of a pair of shoes to a child. Do you know how many other people I actually saw without shoes?

None.


Miami: the most populous county in Florida and the ninth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625. The 42nd largest city it is the principal, central, and most populous city of the South Florida metropolitan area, the most populous metropolis in the Southeastern United States.
According to the US Census Bureau, Miami's metro area is the seventh most populous in the United States.

Miami is a major center and a leader in finance, commerce, culture, media, entertainment, the arts, and international trade.In 2010, Miami ranked seventh in the United States in terms of finance, commerce, culture, entertainment, fashion, education, and other sectors.

It ranked thirty-third among global cities.

In the past Miami has been ranked as "America's Cleanest City" according to Forbes Magazine for its year-round good air quality, vast green spaces, clean drinking water, clean streets and city-wide recycling programs.

In 2009, in a study of 73 world cities, Miami was ranked as the richest city in the United States and the world's fifth-richest city, in terms of purchasing power.

I don't understand one day without shoes and all these wonderful facts about this city and little if any people took off their shoes.

It's pretty sad that society is so stuck on the self and attached to a reality they have created to their liking. A reality with no regard for others. I had people stare me down like I was some kind of retro hippie just because I wasn't wearing shoes- a lot of which didn't even bother asking me why, despite the fact that I was fully dressed and conducting business.

I wish the rest of the Miami would wake up. Miamians: so many are caught up in the bullshit that others are thinking, so caught up in that South Beach party it up, get wasted stupidity. They are clueless about art, culture, people, lives, countries- they are pretty much clueless about anything that isn't "self".

It’s easy to see how shoes and clean water could go hand-in-hand in preventing diseases. I guess it is also easy to overlook the need of others when your so busy worrying about who you're going to step on with your Jimmy Choos on the way up the corporate ladder.

If you are reading this, you live in Miami and you didn't take off your shoes- Become a little more aware. There's so much more to life than what is going on in only yours.

Hating Miami,
Me.