"Special" Update

 

Four years ago, I got a letter saying I got picked for the 2022 USA Special Olympics in Orlando Florida. It was the highlight of my Special Olympics career. I did bowling when I was down there and I had fun making new friends and competing on a national level. Fast forward to this year, I got chosen again for the USA Special Olympics but I got picked for bocce. The location is also different, Minneapolis Minnesota. Obviously I will have training to do but I'm not going to have an exercise theme for the Barefoot Autism Challenge like I did in 2022. That being said, I'll be training as hard as I can and I know that it'll be fine regardless.

What I look forward with these games is besides competing in a sport I love and making new friends, is so many fun opportunities. Last time I led Team Iowa in the parade of athletes; I doubt I'll be doing that again but we'll see what happens. There's a cool event called the ESPN Unified Sports Challenge where athletes can do fun activities with Unified Partners and celebrities. I would love to do this because it's not everyday that I would compete alongside certain celebrities. One of my favorite celebrities is gymnast Shawn Johnson East who happens to be an ambassador for the games. Maybe she'll be on one of the teams doing the challenge. Who knows?

All I know is that even though the games are a year away, I need to prepare myself, train as hard as I can, and just know that there are going to be so many great things ahead. I can't wait to meet my bocce team and have a great time in Minnesota.

National Barefoot Day

 June 1st is National Barefoot Day! It's a day to enjoy the sensation of walking barefoot and to raise awareness about the importance of shoes for those in need, particularly underprivileged children and victims of natural disasters. The day is promoted by organizations like Soles4Souls. But people like me enjoy National Barefoot Day for the latter.

Summer is the time of year where a lot of us shed the shoes and let our feet be free. If you're curious about being barefoot, I encourage you to try going barefoot in your backyard and walk barefoot in the grass.

When you're barefoot in nature it just makes you feel better. Walking barefoot also helps with sleep, reducing anxiety and makes you feel like a kid again. Of course you do have to be aware of some things when walking barefoot. However, when you're barefoot you're more aware of your surroundings and you walk slower. That means if something comes up that might be dangerous, you're more aware of it and you are able to avoid it easier. We don't notice those kinds of things as much when wearing shoes. And when you walk slower you actually get to be more in the moment rather than being rushed.

So I hope you had a great National Barefoot Day and try going barefoot yourself.