The American playwright Neil Simon wrote a romantic play in the Sixties about a newly married couple who go through initial adjustments to accommodate one another including the wife wishing her buttoned-up husband would relax and do fun and crazy things like walking with her barefoot in the park. The play was turned into a lovely film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda. I highly recommend it.
You would think that such a simple suggestion to take your shoes off and walk barefoot in the park would appeal to everyone, clearly not. I certainly would jump at the opportunity, if asked by someone close to me. I can imagine the pleasure of feeling the wet grass between my toes or cold feel of the earth on the soles of my feet. I would also like to walk in the rain until droplets of rain drip off the tip of my nose; lie on the ground on a clear night and gaze at the stars; embrace someone and roll down a grassy hill; sneak into a children playground when nobody is around and slide down the slides or have a go on the swings.
These little life-affirming, simple, yet silly actions are good for our souls and we should indulge in them more often.
