I feel like I’ve bested the biggest physical burden of my life and would like to reflect on my experience. I was born with flat feet; not a disability by any standard, but a hinderance. A hinderance in physical activities, but most importantly, god forbid, style. When I was a child, the orthopaedist recommended I wear special footwear and always tie my shoe-laces. That was very “uncool” so I never did. And even though I was very keen on sports, I could not run very fast. So I took up swimming instead (and subsequently rose to the top 8 butterfly swimmers in the country). The years went by, fashion shoe after fashion shoe, step after step, doctor after doctor, orthotic after orthotic, I came to a point where I could not even stand on my two feet. I had to always be in sports shoes and rest often, lest my ankles would be in extreme pain. I shied away from walking barefoot, going out for long, or even travelling which meant sightseeing which meant walking. I got to a point where my life and soul were dependent on how much my feet were hurting that day. I was 26.<\/p>\n
I thought to myself, this is it. This is where my life changes. This is where being healthy ends and I should probably take up reading more books because that’s the only thing I’ll be able to do in a few years! That was until somebody suggested that this problem of mine might be psychosomatic. “But I was born this way” I said furiously. How could somebody suggest something ridiculous like that. However, this idea struck a chord in me. For the first time I considered that this “birth defect” might be fixable. I entered in a completely different state of mind. I was recommended to see an osteopath (I subsequently met the magnificent Cedric of Fulham osteopaths in London) and I also found a good insole shop (http:\/\/www.profeet.co.uk\/ I cannot speak highly of them\u00a0enough<\/span>). And with tango and capoeira as hobbies of a few years, I started focusing more on posture, flexibility and strengthening those little foot muscles I had left for dead all these years. Thanks to the change of mindset, the guidance of Cedric, the insoles at Profeet and my focus on core strength and stretching, 4 years later, I can not only walk without pain, but also walk and train barefoot. As I look back, being a pro swimmer, picking up rock climbing, tango and now capoeira may have never caught my attention had it not been for my flat feet.<\/span><\/p>\n This story might sound trivial to some. and I’m sure everyone has heard a version of the phrase “a blessing in disguise”. The truth is that each and every person has a cross to bear; but this cross takes us places that would otherwise be too mundane to discover. And there is beauty in that.<\/p>\n
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