Put Your Best Foot Forward

Greetings:

Self-care is a major part of having a healthy and happy life. We can sometimes think of self-care as being selfish, but it isn't. It is about self-love, which can be very difficult for some of us. When it comes to self-care, one area of our bodies that is often neglected is our feet. It can be easy to take our feet for granted, but for our health's sake we need to pay attention to the two parts of our body that give us support and mobility.

The human foot is an engineering marvel, being a combination of 26 bones, 33 joints and 107 ligaments linked by a network of muscles, nerves and blood vessels. The average adult takes thousands of steps a day. With each step, the foot strikes the ground with up to three times our body weight. That's a lot for our feet to put up with.

Make sure you are wearing shoes that are comfortable and provide support. It is difficult to be your best if your feet hurt. I know it can be tempting to wear shoes because they look good, but resist. Life is way too short to wear uncomfortable shoes. I was watching the television show, "What Not to Wear" and the guest was wearing a pair of $600.00 shoes. The host asked, "Are they comfortable?" and the guest replied, "No, but they sure do look good!" The host simply shook her head and looked into the camera and said, "You too can be uncomfortable for $600.00." Please, I think I will save my $600.00 and buy several pairs of comfortable shoes.

Receiving regular pedicures, in a salon or at home can help to keep your feet healthy and happy. A pedicure may seem like a luxury, but they actually are something that can help with the maintenance of your feet. A recent study involving elderly people showed that those who had regular pedicures were healthier overall than those who did not. Moreover, pedicures are not just for women. At the salon I go to, I see more and more men in the pedicure chair. In addition, there are services such as reflexology, chiropractic services for feet, and my favorite, a foot massage, to help keep feet healthy and happy.

It may seem odd to talk about feet, but self-care of the body is vital when it comes to having a great life. Our feet provide support and mobility and earn some special attention. Don't overlook taking care of the part of your body that provides support and mobility. As a friend of mine who has diabetes tells me, it is easy to take feet for granted, but it comes at a high price.

For additional resources on the care of your feet, check out the following websites:

Taking Care of Your Feet

Pioneering Thinking


Do something this week to take care of your feet. Have a pedicure, buy a new pair of shoes or have a foot massage. You feet provide you with support and mobility. Take care of them.