Barefooting

Sometimes we just need to kick off our shoes. We need a rest, sand between our toes, and time. We need to go barefooting.

I didn’t pay attention to the joy of barefooting until a few weekends ago when it warmed up enough for us to walk barefoot on the beach. My two-year-old daughter exclaimed, “I love barefooting!” And her words stuck with me.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that barefooting has a much broader purpose. It isn’t limited to a beach. One can go barefooting on a fluffy carpet, on a sun-soaked sidewalk, in cool blades of grass. Barefooting eases stress, frees up the mind for inspiration, and pulls us into the present moment of feeling the world with our feet.

Our soles soothe our souls.

Go barefooting!

Bluesday Tip #1: Sending out an SOS

Today is Bluesday (the first Tuesday of the month). Each Bluesday I share a tip for How To Be Blue. This month’s Bluesday tip is “Source Of Seafood” or, as I like to put it, “SOS” (just like the well known distress signal). The ocean is sending out an SOS! Pay attention to the source of the seafood in the market or on the menu. Choose accordingly. The source of seafood we consume affects not only the sustainability of the ocean fisheries, but our own health.

For my vegetarian and vegan friends (and anyone who doesn’t like seafood), this one will be easy. For the rest of us, it’s difficult to figure out the source of seafood. What is best for the ocean and for us? I certainly struggle with this and often forget to bring along a list when I shop or dine.

To that end, the following information is reprinted from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch website. For more detailed information and to print your own Seafood Watch Pocket Guide for any area of the U.S., please click here:

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has identified seafood that is "Super Green" (again, I think it should be called Super “Blue”) meaning that it is good for human health and does not harm the oceans. The Super Green list highlights products that are currently on the Seafood Watch "Best Choices" list, are low in environmental contaminants, and are good sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

The Best of the Best: January 2010

Albacore Tuna (troll- or pole-caught, from U.S. or British Columbia)
Freshwater Coho Salmon (farmed in tank systems, from the U.S.)
Mussels (farmed)
Oysters (farmed)
Pacific Sardines (wild-caught)
Pink Shrimp (wild-caught, from Oregon)
Rainbow Trout (farmed)
Salmon (wild-caught, from Alaska)
Spot Prawns (wild-caught, from British Columbia)

Other Healthy “Best Choices”

Arctic Char (farmed)
Bay Scallops (farmed)
Crayfish (farmed, from the U.S.)
Dungeness Crag (wild-caught, from California, Oregon or Washington)
Longfin Squid (wild-caught, from the U.S. Atlantic)
Pacific Cod (longline-caught, from Alaska)

Print this list and take it along whenever you plan to buy or eat seafood, or print a Pocket Guide from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch website.

The ocean is sending out an SOS! This month’s Bluesday tip is to pay attention and respond to the SOS - Source Of Seafood.

Eat wisely.

May you turn a deeper shade of blue with each passing month!