I met a woman who didn't wear shoes...

(There is further academic reading you may wish to view below).

Hullo.

Please note that the theories I present are birthed from evidence-in-practice, chatting to infinitely clever trousered types - with letters - than myself, work-in-progress observations and common - fucking - sense. I am not a scientist but I am equipped with logic, curiosity and - perhaps paradoxically - a wonderment and appreciation of the esoteric.

Let us begin...

Dementia and Alzheimer's, they say, is on the increase. It is. Statistics for how many of us will be effected by 2050 are terrifying. On the plus side, the Daily Mail have their top story sorted for the next 36 years. What a relief.

Dementia - well, it's just the aging process isn't it? Let's just draw a line under that and let people's loved ones dissolve into the 'living death' in front of their eyes; robbing them and loved ones of their memories, their purpose, their 'being'.

Well no actually, I'm not really down with that retired defeat especially when I (and you) can see obvious opportunities to reverse signs of dementia that we can apply to our lives NOW.

I don't know how you feel about pharmaceutical companies, but for the most part I find them to be opportunistic vultures keen on sedating a problem (plugging a dam with a finger) rather than allowing practical therapies to reign; particularly within mental health - because they're all about the dollar dollar bill ya'll. Helping people?! Pffffffft. Let's not be naive.

But guess what Glaxo-bastards? We already have the power to heal ourselves through common sense and a pinch of the primitive. And you can't own it, you leeches. Ha. In your (tested-on-animals) faces!

Work is hard isn't it? Dependent on role, naturally, but for the purpose of this argument, let's look at a sedentary role, or a habitual action...doing the same task(s) over and over again. Initially this might have been a challenge with frontal lobe growth inevitable whilst learning the new, but now learnt, and autonomous; where's the challenge in that?!

Let's now include prolonged mental stress, perhaps in an occupational sense (overworked/underpaid normality) or lengthy emotional strain - could this contribute to a metaphorical RSI of the brain? Well yes, it does. Them lot have proved it.

A habitually functioning brain is likely to be strong in parts, overused in areas, weak and neglected in others. Ah well, nevermind, retirement isn't long off, and then I can do nothing............

Nothing.

We all know brain training is proven to be beneficial not only to the young but also the Countdown brigade, in fact scrap that, it's fundamentally beneficial to all isn't it? Because learning is fun isn't it? Challenging our - constantly evolving - perceptions aids us in developing broadminded and newly informed approaches and responses. We should do that, that sounds bloody marvellous.

Listening to music is fantastic isn't it? All of it. Challenging, soothing, mood altering - and not only is it the most responsive and favoured form of therapy, it's proven to exercise ALL the brain. We've all seen the clips of the old fella with Dementia listening to his old time favourites? For a period his clarity is restored; his thoughts and language coherent. Yep, that, that's how powerful that stuff is! We should listen to that loads!

Exercise is good isn't it? Not only does it keep us fit but also reduces anxiety and allows us to organise our thoughts. We should mix it up as well, so we're exercising different parts of our body and brain. We should definitely do that a lot. And dancing! It's amazing isn't it? It enables us to live in the moment; carefree, experiencing lightness and spontaneity. Dancing - we should never stop doing that, and even if we don't think we can dance, we should definitely do it on the sly. Yes, that's a triffic idea.

Eating right is good isn't it? All those nutrients. Yum. Processed foods are well shady aren't they? I mean, just what the bejesus is in some of those synthetic sugary treats that in no way are contributing to obesity and cancer and chronic sads........we should definitely eat as close to nature intended as possible. Yes, that's a great idea.

Nature is wonderful isn't it? Being in it, meditating within it, enjoying the tranquility, exploration and the inspiration of worldly delights that are bigger than ourselves; a roofless space of infinite growth we take for granted. Yes, let's do that. And it's e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e.

...But let's go one step further, let's do it barefoot!

-"You're fuckin mad you! Why aren't you wearing shoes?!".


-"Erm, well it helps me feel grounded to the earth. It also keeps me sharp as I have many different types of terrain to handle. I am forced to live in the moment when I walk. It's quite good, you should try it".

-"Weirdo".


This was a conversation I had, where I momentarily took the stance of a conditioned Western society in judging this 'eccentric'. My actual response was:

-"Yeah, good point (weirdo)".

See here for information on the importance of 'grounding'.

What many of us forget is the unexplainable - the spirit, our spirit, the God in us: the thing that exudes from your face when experiencing joy, the stuff that shoots into your fingers when you're touching something pleasing, the warmth of heart when you encounter delight, the shine you radiate when revelling in the child-like. This unquantifiable substance you can't bottle, nor commercialise, but you can find it, seek it, and enjoy it all in the simplest of ways, you just have to allow and remind yourself of its importance regardless if it might make you a weirdo. Because without the spirit, too many doors stay closed and contain nothing.

Faith, spirit and openness is the magical fluid that keeps everything else afloat and 'lubricated'.

So kick off your shoes, mix it up, open your doors, and keep on keeping on!





Further reading:

The inspirational Barbara Arrowsmith Young

Alzheimer's reversal success

You are what you eat

Thank you to Dr. Garuth Chalfont