Steps to barefoot bliss, life's true priorities

"Why doesn't that girl wear shoes?" I wish I could say that it was a campaign to raise money and awareness for impoverished, shoeless children, but as noble as this may sound it is far from the truth. If you stopped to ask me this question, I may have mentioned feeling more connected to nature or claimed that I found shoes to be an inconvenience after a year abroad in the Turks and Caicos Islands and New Zealand.

In reality, my barefoot endeavor began when I misplaced my flip flops in Maryland during my drive to campus. I planned to swing by Target and purchase a new pair, but in the excitement of returning to Richmond after being away for over a year, I kept putting off this simple errand. A day turned into a week ... and surprisingly, I discovered that shoes, which the general public considers to be absolutely essential for daily life, are really only an accessory.

I can tell you from personal experience that you will not contract trench foot from the Westhampton Green and that the bricks on the side of our walkways are smoother than the pavement. For those of you B-school residents who are concerned that I will never amount to anything because of my barefoot lifestyle, let it be known that I successfully landed a job after a shoeless interview! But still, in the world of the 21st century where even most impoverished children can find shoes, why bother going without them?

For me, it was a means of discovery. Richmond students are so driven toward the concept of success that somehow we can lose sight of what makes life worthwhile. Walking barefoot has been my personal reminder to always fully engage in life.

It has literally slowed my walking pace and made me more likely to stop and talk with people, rather than the typical, "Hey Brittany, what's up?" without waiting to hear a reply. In class, it's easy to become caught up, stressing over a particular concept or assignment and fail to appreciate the value of the present.

During my year abroad, I learned that happiness can be something that you strive for on a daily basis rather than a long-term goal linked to a successful career. Additionally, undue worry about little things, like shoes, or memorizing a specific chemical reaction, or perfecting the exact wording of a text message merely adds stress to life without any significant payoff.

As the leaves start to change and cool autumn days replace warm summer sunshine, chances are I will finally return to the comfort of a polyurethane sole beneath my feet. But I hope that by spending two months without shoes I will not quickly revert to the relentless pace of my previous life, where people and relationships were sacrificed for productivity.

A productive lifestyle is valuable, but truly investing in the people around me, their hopes, dreams, fears, strengths, passions, etc., and enabling their success is far more rewarding and more meaningful than an uncompromising pursuit of my own solitary achievement. I also hope that this exploration of life's true priorities will impact others, not to sentence shoes to the dumpster, but rather to move beyond small talk conversations and fully engage in life.

How many times do you find yourself checking the time on your phone and considering the numerous other places you should be? Consider where you actually want to be? What do you enjoy doing? Why? These are the things, or likely the people, that bring value to life.

Make them your priority and let everything else fall into place after.