Life is Sailing

June 29, 2025

Injured toes need to learn to feel the ground again, to curl toward the earth and feel the sand or slipper or grass. Injured toes want to stay off the ground, to pull away from what hurts. This is necessary for a time. But after a break from pressure, the injured toe, now rested from use, must re-engage with every day tasks. It must feel the earth again and learn to bend.

There is a term called “grounding”, a word used to describe a technique to help cope with psychological-emotional trauma. It is a “wellness practice that involves making direct contact with the Earth’s surface, such as walking barefoot on grass, sand or dirt. The theory is that grounding provides a connection to the Earth’s electrical charge, which may have a positive impact on our bodies, health and mood.” (Missionhealth.org)

Grounding has also been used to help children with autism or ADHD calm their senses. It relieves nervous tension and anxiety. For whatever reason, the connection of our feet or body to the earth soothes our systems and balances our emotions.

So let us remember where our feet stand. Let us wiggle our toes and feel where each of the ten connect to the earth. We can be grounded and present in life, no matter how busy, no matter how chaotic. We are here where we need to be.