The initial steps outside weren’t that bad. The ground felt cool and refreshing from the recent rain fall. I left my dorm and headed down the street to my class. Today was special because it was the Day Without Shoes awareness campaign by Toms and I readily accepted the challenge. I figured it wouldn’t be too hard — go a full day without wearing shoes. Simple, right?

I thought it wasn’t too bad, until I started to cross the street. Multiple audible "ouches!" escaped from my mouth as I stepped on rocks and jagged cracked concrete. I shuffled across the street yearning to get back on the smoother sidewalk. Okay, maybe this may hurt a bit more than I thought. By the time I arrived at my class my feet already hurt, and were numb from the cold ground. I used to be able to walk on concrete all day, but recently I’ve worn shoes around and my feet have become wimps.

I arrived to my class and receive a few strange glances from my professors and classmates, but soon they realized it was Day Without Shoes. I was surprised at the amount of people who noticed, but didn’t know the event was taking place, and ignored the fact I had no shoes on my feet. They looked away. They glanced at the ground, the trees, anything around them in order to avoid eye contact. I walked past a few groups of people and they talked quietly to their friends whispering,

“Where’s her shoes? Why isn’t she wearing shoes.”

There it is, that’s the reaction I wanted! I wanted people to question the fact that I was missing shoes. I didn’t want people ignoring it, because if we don’t question the problem, nothing will ever get fixed. If we continue to look around at everything but ignore the problem in front of us, our world has lost its sense of compassion, its ability to love, its action to care about another human.

Many children around the world are not permitted into schools in which strict rules require shoes and uniforms. Others, without adequate shoes, develop diseases and infections on their feet. We can do something here to help these children out. We can donate, act and join campaigns to spread the awareness.

I quickly understood that day my feet have thoroughly enjoyed the luxuries of shoes for too long. I have multiple colors of Converse and Vans look-a-likes, different colored boots, heels and flats. The list goes on. I go on each day being thankful for what I have, but not realizing what others don’t have. Some children are happy when they own a single pair of shoes. We should not care as individuals, but as a community in wanting to make a change in the world for the better. We should want to make people’s days and lives better, even with a simple smile or hello.

So next time you slip on your pair of shoes before you head out the door remind yourself, you have the ability and the strength to make someone else's day, week and life better. So why not? Tackle each day knowing you are blessed, be thankful for what you have, and be kind to others.