I was lying down this morning, after waking up earlier than usual and being in lazy mode. At one point, while scrolling through endless social media, I felt a slight discomfort in my lower back, so after a little bit of adjustments to get it well again, I noticed something fascinating, yet a bit incredible.
You see, the spine is bendy. It slithers up and down our bodies like a snake. Like the wave effect that you can do with your arms. You probably know as well that the lower part of the spine also curves inwards, and it's supposed to be that way when you're in a healthy posture. What I think at least of people interested in the barefoot lifestyle, is that we are more aware of our bodies' overall postures. At least it's what I want to believe. A change this drastic in your shoe-wearing should start or snowball a healthier way of living.
Curves
Now, let's focus especially on the lower spine. You know, just above the tailbone, curving in towards the stomach. When I was slothfully resting this beautiful Saturday morning, I became especially aware of my spine's posture in that position, and in that position, I noticed well before today, the flatness of the snake. But it got me thinking, is even good to sleep like this, with a flat bone? Surely it's going to be stiff and sore, crackling every time I go for a hamstring stretch. That was a doubt, let's even say an intrusive thought. 
But today my imagination ran a bit wild. Doesn't the lying down torso look like a foot? Especially, don't the back and its silhouette look like the bottom of a foot? Doesn't the arch in the lower back look like the arch on our feet? In a way I'm glad this thought crossed my mind, it gives you something to wonder about.
It really does look like a the sole of a foot. It even gives you problems like the sole of a foot. How many of us actually realised how flat our foot arches were before starting on barefoot shoes? No strength, no curve, no need for strength or a curve. Why need all of that when your favourite Nikes do that for you? And guess what, I've been trying to compare the equivalent of this flat foot business with the flat back arch.
Many of us work at a desk, sitting often (or sometimes if you've invested in a standing desk). Do you remember of a time when you used to slouch like a goblin throughout school and even at your office job? Maybe some of you still do it to this day.
Guess what.
That slouching position is deadly for your spine's health. But you already know this. Everyone does. Most people just don't care. But you probably do, so let me tell you this. That slouch looks like a flat soled foot. That posture allows the lower spine to become flat, while letting the mid and upper back go forward, creating a hunch. That, to me, looks exactly like the average foot inside the average shoe. No need to maintain the arch and the curve. Let gravity be the heel support.
And maybe we get a bit philosophical here. The desk and chair job fuels the modern economic machine. The raised soft heeled, external creating arch shoe is also a product and design fuelling the modern cultural machine. It is what it is, and there are many things that could be said about it, but truth be told, most people won't see this side of the coin. I would love for them to, but I'm just glad that if you're reading this, chances are that you're going to form a love affair with your body, if you haven't already done so.