My word for the year is observe. And this week I have been spending quite a bit of time observing my feet. If that sounds a bit weird, it is not as in foot fetish but more about how they work and, in my case, work less well. We have all probably heard that women’s high heels are crushers for metatarsals. But then what about those big cushy running shoes? Super comfy, right? It turns out our feet are filled with nerve endings that help tell us where we are, and how to balance. Constantly wearing shoes like that is similar to wearing heavy mittens on your hands for decades at a time. The feet go to sleep and the nerves just check out. Which means I can’t feel – observe – what is happening with the sole of my foot. Balance issues anyone?
There are so many ways our world may be designed to increase comfort but actually reduces our ability to feel, and thus observe. One of the high-level maneuvers to living well is being able to enjoy all the wonders of life, while also remaining healthfully present. It strikes me as a spectrum with, on the one hand, people like Bryan Johnson from this week’s SuperAge podcast who is about as extreme as I have ever encountered. Not a lot of room for pumpkin pie or late night dinners with friends in Bryan’s world. On the other hand, he is probably the single most scientifically directed and governed person in existence, constantly in touch with the entirety of his body.
Then of course we have the other extreme, more commonly seen, who is completely dissociated from their body, their emotions, and the world around them. Yikes. There is a middle ground and, although I may lean closer to Bryan, I still like to occasionally hang out late with friends, go for springtime walks listening to birds, go to gallery shows and movies, and check out new restaurants. We all seem to have a certain range that works for us, and my guess is we all have a certain archetype we follow which guides us in how much is enough. No shade on anyone who loves a Friday late-night piece of pie; if it works for you in your view of the world, then have at it. What we need to be vigilant about is understanding that what may work well for one person may not work well for everyone. In the much-used phrase of the moment, let you be you. For me this week, and this is a bit boring, I’ll be the guy walking a bit funny in his new barefoot running shoes trying to get in touch with my big toes; and maybe some late-night socializing, too. If you go for the pie, let me know how it was. I still love a good pumpkin pie.
Onward and upward,
David
