When was the last time you took off your shoes and socks and walked barefoot on the earth?

There exists in our society an astounding yet subtle irony. We live in a world where the availability and convenience of our tools of communication and connectivity far surpasses any we have ever known. We are instantly and constantly in touch with each other and our institutions. And yet, we have become profoundly disconnected – disconnected from the very planet on which we live.

We awaken, get out of bed and move about on the floors of our homes. We ready ourselves for the day’s activities and leave our homes walking on the concrete or asphalt of the garage, carport or sidewalk and get into our car or board a bus in which we travel to work or shop. Upon arriving at our destination we exit the car and step onto the concrete of the parkade or exit the bus onto the concrete sidewalk. We travel to the office or store on concrete/asphalt and then return the same way at the end of our task. Never once for days, weeks, perhaps months on end do we actually come into direct contact with the earth.

In our busy lives we can easily fail to notice such a disconnect. We are much accustomed to traveling artificial surfaces and the hectic pace of our lives keeps us moving ahead without being much aware of the mode of travel.

This lack of connection to the actual earth is a metaphor for our lack of connection to the environment, to our world in total. It is incumbent on us to explore such a disconnect in light of what it means for our health, and ultimately, the health of the planet.

More to come.