UK man challenges himself to walk barefoot for a year: ‘It's been really liberating'
Bear Intentions, 34, gave up his shoes and socks back in October and has been going through life barefoot ever since.
The challenge is due to end this October, but to mark its completion, Bear is planning to walk 746 miles from Italy all the way to the UK.
He is taking no footwear at all on the six to eight-week journey – even though he'll be crossing difficult and mountainous terrain.
5 Bear Intentions, 34, gave up his shoes and socks back in October and has been going through life barefoot ever since.
Bear Intentions / SWNS
But the well-being artist has become used to things not being easy over the past year.
He has faced social judgment, been kicked out of supermarkets, and even nearly barred from boarding a flight, he claims.
And, he's suffered from injuries – including trench foot from spending too much time in the rain and tendonitis from straining his muscles.
But Bear is still positive about the challenge, which he says has been 'liberating.'
5 Bear is planning to walk 746 miles from Italy to the UK by the end of October.
Bear Intentions / SWNS
Bear, from the New Forest in the UK, said: 'The barefoot challenge is part of me challenging myself to live with intention – and particularly to live authentically and stand up for what I believe in.
'It's been really liberating and helped with my confidence – especially as socially it weirds people out and physically it's uncomfortable.
'And it's also helped teach me about how to choose a different path for myself.
'Admittedly, there have been some difficulties – like getting kicked out of supermarkets.
'And in May, I was in the US, and I was trying to fly from LA to New York, and they kicked me off the flight because I didn't have any shoes on.
'I had to talk to loads of people, and explain that I couldn't wear socks or shoes, and eventually they allowed me back on.
'The hardest thing though has been getting over people's looks of disgust. Because that is the main reaction.'
Soon, Bear will be walking from Aosta Valley in northern Italy to London in the UK – as a way to finish off his challenge.
He'll be accompanied by his dog, a four-year-old German Shepherd called Thor.
Bear said: 'I wanted to do something that would mark the end of the year and help me reflect on what I've done.
'I am feeling like the odds are stacked against me though, when it comes to completing it.
'I've had injuries thanks to repetitive strain on a tendon in my foot, and that flared up recently after just a 3-mile walk.
5 'The barefoot challenge is part of me challenging myself to live with intention – and particularly to live authentically and stand up for what I believe in,' Bear said.
Bear Intentions / SWNS
'I'm aiming to walk 15 miles a day – so I'm hoping I can do it.'
Bear will be using his challenge to raise money for two charities: CALM and Medical Detection Dogs, which trains dogs to support people with life-threatening health conditions.
'One charity for me, one charity for Thor,' Bear said.
Interestingly, this is not the first time Bear has tackled a unique year-long challenge.
5 'The hardest thing, though, has been getting over people's looks of disgust. Because that is the main reaction,' the man continued.
Bear Intentions / SWNS
From October 2021 to October 2022, he spent an entire year in silence – not speaking once.
In the same period the following year, he wore fancy dress costumes every single day.
And last year, he focused on a year of 'volunteering', where he would ask people how he could help them.
Speaking about his year of silence, Bear said: 'For the first six months, I had to wake up every day and remind myself, 'Don't speak today.'
5 Bear is still positive about the challenge, which he says has been 'liberating.'
Bear Intentions / SWNS
'Then, around the halfway point, it just became the norm for me.
'I actually enjoyed not speaking. I found that very peaceful. But the impact it had on being social was really intense on my mental health.'
You can donate to Bear's fundraiser for CALM, and you can donate to Bear's fundraiser for Medical Detection Dogs.
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