An Epiphany of Sole

12.4.2021

I recently experienced an epiphany of the sole.

 

Because of ankle discomfort and lower leg tightness that slithered down to my left foot (saga I wrote about last week), I made a decision. I would repeat a series of foot exercises I had practiced in 2017. These exercises helped my feet. After a few months, I stopped doing them regularly. Here’s a complete list of what I’m talking about: seated ankle alphabet, seated plantar fascia mobilization with small ball, toe spreading, seated toe curl, seated ankle dorsiflexion, seated heel raise, seated arch lifts, seated great toe extension, seated lesser toes extension, towel scrunches, and long sitting ankle PNF D1 & 2 AROM.

Each of those exercises is printed on a separate sheet of paper. Each page recommends the exercise be executed ten reps for three sets. This is to be practiced three times each day. Since I could not imagine anyone in their right mind doing this 3 times a day, I did one set a day. It was recommended the exercises be performed five times a week, so I wrote in big red letters on the first page of the stapled-together sheets: NOT FRIDAY, NOT SUNDAY.  

You can see that committing to these exercises is not a trivial pursuit. The decision was made grudgingly. I resented the time I had to spend, and I often rushed through carelessly.

Now I will share with you the miraculous epiphany of the sole.

One morning when I was in the middle of toe spreading, one of the exercises, I looked down at my feet. Unexpectedly I felt a great surge of tenderness towards my body. These feet have been with me since birth and besides being double AA narrow, which makes it difficult to find shoes that fit, they have been good feet. They have taken me to lots of places.

Moved by the strength of my epiphany-like feeling, I updated the decision mentioned in the first paragraph to read as follows: When I do these exercises for my feet, I will no longer resent the time spent. I will no longer wish I was doing something else. I will be gentle and grateful that I can sit up and stand up to do these exercises. I will love and take care of my body – especially my feet.

Do you resent time spent taking care of your body? Please let me know. And while you are thinking about your answer, take off your socks and see if you can lift your big toe independently of your other toes. Then add the result to your response. Thanks for reading and commenting and tolerating with bad puns.