Barefoot weekend and Christmas shopping with Lynn
by Tania WL
There's something magical about slipping off your shoes and letting the earth connect with you. That's what I do everyday after work. But this past weekend was extra special: I wasn't doing it alone. I got to spend the entire weekend and go Christmas shopping barefoot with my little sister Sharleen (a.k.a. Lynn).
Hi everyone, this is Tania, Lynn's big sister. I used to post on this blog back in the day, but since I started working I got pretty busy and decided to let Lynn take over. But she said I should write this post for old time's sake. So here I am.
Unfortunately, I have to wear shoes to work. But in my office I usually take them off. Sometimes I even walk to the break room barefoot which is ok as long as my manager doesn't see me. One time I got caught, but luckily my manager and I get along quite well, so she just glared at me and my bare feet without saying a word. I giggled and was like, "Sorry, I was just getting a cup of coffee," and walked quickly back to my office.
So it was Friday evening, and as soon as I got home from work I changed into shorts and a tank-top, and got ready to drive over to my sister's place on the other side of the island. We were going to do some Christmas shopping together, and of course as barefoot sisters, we were going sans shoes. So I packed some basic stuff and didn't bring any footwear. Not even flip flops.
Lynn decided to leave work a little early that day so she could spend the evening with me. We could have eaten at the restaurant where she works, but we chose to eat at Lynn's favorite place - the Chinese fast food restaurant right behind her apartment complex for more privacy.
I arrived at her place at around 7 pm. We hugged each other as I walked in the door. After dinner we watched a couple of movies on TV and then went to the bedroom and chatted some more. Lynn has a queen bed which is big enough for both of us. We used to share a room when we were kids (although each of us had our own bed), so it was kind of nostalgic, and we reminisced about our childhood. Lynn and I have always been best friends. That doesn't mean we never have our differences. In fact, fought quite often when we were younger. Not physically of course, although there was one instance when we were arguing heatedly and she pushed me, and I pushed her back. But we both laughed after that, and the argument ended immediately.
We talked about everything - memories from childhood Christmases, plans for the coming year, and how barefoot living had become such a meaningful part of who we are. For both of us, it started as an act of rebellion but later became about freedom, comfort, and staying connected to the earth beneath us. At around midnight we fell asleep. Yes, in our dirty feet.
Saturday: free spirits
Saturday morning greeted us with clear skies. There was a slight chill in the air which was quite invigorating. So we put on our light clothes, grabbed our bags, and headed out to do Christmas shopping with no footwear, no schedule, and no intention of behaving like "normal" holiday shoppers. Part of me always loves that moment when you step outside barefoot and know full well that society expects something else of you. Yes, even in Hawaii where going barefoot in public is more tolerated but still not the norm. "Good," my inner voice whispered. "We as free spirits aren't obligated to live up to others' expectations."
Coffee shop stop
We began the morning wandering down the street and slipping into Lynn's favorite little coffee shop. The floor was smooth tile, cool against our soles. A couple of people glanced at our bare feet, and the barista who knew Lynn just chuckled and said, "Good morning miss Sharleen, looks like you're enjoying the weekend!" Lynn introduced me to him, and he said "You barefoot young ladies certainly know how to live life!" We sipped iced lattes by the window, our bare feet stretched out under the table, and watched the world outside hustle by in sneakers, heels, and sandals.
Barefoot Christmas shopping
The outdoor shopping mall buzzed with life. Palm trees were wrapped in twinkling lights, vendors played ukulele covers of Christmas songs, and the sidewalks held just the right amount of warmth beneath our bare soles. Every surface felt like a quiet conversation with the ground - smooth concrete, textured stone, cool tile inside open-air shops. I caught myself smiling for no reason at all.
We wandered with purpose but not urgency. Every few steps, something caught our attention: a stand selling handmade ornaments, a shop filled with locally poured candles, a stall where the air smelled like citrus and sugar. Christmas shopping barefoot made everything feel slower and sharper at the same time. I noticed details I usually rushed past - patterns in the pavement, tiny cracks filled with sand, and the way my little sister instinctively avoided the roughest patches without even looking.
Our Christmas shopping didn't feel rushed or stressful. It felt like exploration. Like a mini adventure wrapped inside the holiday season. Every now and then, someone noticed us. A double take. A curious smile. Once, a woman laughed softly and said, "You two must be locals." Yeah, and she must have been a tourist, lol.
Lunch at the food court
By midday we were hungry, so we decided to get some Hawaiian plate lunches at the food court. Our bare feet were in plain sight as we ate our meals and sipped iced tea. A couple at the next table whispered something about our shoelessness and dirty feet, but Lynn and I didn't give a fuck. The freedom was too sweet.
Christmas shopping in Hawaii doesn't need boots or coats or crowded malls. Sometimes, all it needs is warm ground beneath your feet, a sense of adventure, and a sister/best friend walking right beside you.
As evening rolled in, the temperature dipped slightly but wasn't too cold. We walked back yo the parking lot as the decorative lights flickered on, our footsteps quiet against the pavement. By the time we got home, our bags were full, our feet filthy and happy, and our spirits lighter than they had been in weeks.
Since it was still quite early when we got back to Lynn's apartment, we decided to cook for dinner. Nothing fancy - just shrimp fried rice and curry chicken. After dinner we curled up on the couch, feet tucked under blankets, wrapping some of the gifts, and replaying the best moments of the day.
Sunday: a slower pace
After a restful night's sleep (again, in our dirty feet), we kicked things off at the park not far from Lynn's apartment. The grass was damp with morning dew, clover tickled our toes, and the two of us ended up racing each other across the open field like kids. There's something about running barefoot that makes you laugh harder, like your whole body remembers what it's like to be carefree. People walking their dogs glanced at us and smiled. I think they could tell we weren't embarrassed. We were free spirits.
Woodland path
Lunch was on the patio of a tiny café, where our dirty bare feet dangled off the wooden deck. Afterward, we decided to take a woodland trail just behind Lynn's apartment. My sister was a little hesitant at first as that would bring back memories of that terrifying night she had a while back. I finally convinced her that it would be ok since it was during the day, and we wouldn't venture too deep into the woods. Twigs and leaves crackled beneath our soles, and patches of moss gave them cool relief. When the path dipped into a shaded grove, we lingered, enjoying how the earth itself seemed to cradle our steps. It was the kind of walk that reminded us both how alive the world feels when you step into it in bare feet.
Sunset finale
By Sunday evening, our feet still marked by the weekend's adventures - black soles with faint smudges of dirt all over, a couple of tiny scratches, and the warm memory of freedom, we curled up on the lanai watching the sunset as the crickets started to chirp. Neither of us wished for shoes or even sandals. There was no need for polish or perfection. Just two sisters, barefoot and content, carrying the reminder that sometimes, freedom is as simple as stepping out into the world without barriers.
For dinner we ate the leftover food we cooked the day before. After dinner it was time for me to drive back home as I had to return to work the following day. Lynn said, "Being barefoot makes everything feel more real, doesn't it?" I smiled. That was exactly it. It's not just about walking sans footwear. It's about connection, laughter, and a kind of freedom that you can't fake. Sharing that with her made the weekend magical and unforgettable. But it ended too soon. We both shed a couple of tears as we hugged each other again. But we promised to do it again. And more often.
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