Shedding Shoes

Growing up in America's Midwest, my family did not have the custom of removing our shoes upon entering the house. My mom might scold me for not being mindful about wiping my shoes on the doormat, but we kept our foot apparel on indoors.

I've been exposed to other cultures' customs in my adult years—of shedding my shoes upon going into another's home, or into religious buildings. I have come to appreciate the ritual. Recently I was pondering this shoe removal routine and found myself wondering how it may have come about, or what the reasons for doing it may be.

We often follow our culture's customs without taking a deeper look into why we do so. Is it just because we've always done it that way, or are there good reasons? After some contemplation on the question and some internet research, I offer this list as grounds for shedding your shoes upon entering an interior space.

To begin with, it helps keep the place cleaner. By not tracking in outdoor contaminants—dirt, disease, and toxins—one's home is able to remain more tidy and healthy. We may love the outdoors, but do we really want to track in its dust and dog shit?

Many cultures—particularly in the East—have long had the habit of leaving footwear at the door. People in these cultures also are more likely to sit on the floor, so as in the first reason above, a clean floor is more inviting to sit on. It's a good idea to be sensitive to this convention and follow suit.

A third, similar reason is that it's an act of respect to remove one's shoes, before entering another's private space—especially if it happens to be a spiritual space. And shouldn't all homes be spiritual?

A fourth motivation is that it's more comfortable to have your shoes off. One can be more relaxed. It can even be healthier to patter around in bare feet or socks, rather than keeping on one's clunky and stiff shoes or boots.

A fifth reason is the reduction of wear and tear on rugs and furnishings. Japanese floors often are covered with tatami mats, which are not very durable. Additionally, if I have removed my my shoes and find myself sitting in a big, snug chair or couch, my legs seem to naturally fold up, as my feet come up and get cozy. I would never do that with boots on.

Finally, pausing to remove one's shoes before entering another's home or sanctuary, is a great way to mindfully think about what you will be engaging in next. Sometimes we arrive a little tense from the drive or slogging through inclement weather. Do we want to drag those stresses inside, or leave them at the door? By hesitating, taking a couple of deep breaths, greeting our host warmly and respectfully, as we sit to doff shoes, we offer ourselves a useful psychological separation between the outside (maybe a bit frenetic) world and the inside (hopefully peaceful) space. Hey, shedding shoes might lead to world peace!