08/28/2026
I’m not sure I have adequate words for this one. ❤️
While I’m here in Denver, I had the opportunity to spend some time with Ruthie Piper Hardee, the founder of DeepFeet Bar Therapy and the woman I proudly called my mentor during my Hall of Fame speech.
And Ruthie came with a gift for me.
First, there was a thoughtful letter of gratitude; to ME. 😳
She shared what it meant to hear me recognize her as my mentor during my Hall of Fame speech and how hearing DeepFeet graduates and instructors acknowledge her validates those early years of struggle and hard work, especially when so many people told her:
“This will never fly!!”
And then there was what she had carefully wrapped for me.
Not DeepFeet merchandise.
An artifact. A 27-year-old piece of DeepFeet history.
A visor made in 1999 for Ruthie’s very first instructor meeting, from a one-time production bearing the original AOBT logo.
She kept it for 27 years.
She wrapped it.
And she chose to give it to me. 🥹
I found DeepFeet in 2003. I couldn’t possibly have known then how profoundly barefoot massage would shape my career, the therapist and educator I would become, the people I would meet, or the life I would build around teaching this work.
There are people who teach you a technique.
And then there are people whose courage to create something makes your path possible before you even know you’re going to walk it.
Ruthie is that person for me.
Being inducted into the Hall of Fame was an incredible honor. Having the opportunity to use that moment to recognize the woman whose work helped put me there mattered deeply to me.
But having her turn around and honor me with her words, her gratitude, and an artifact she has personally carried from the very beginning of DeepFeet?
That got me. 🥹❤️
Ruthie, I don’t take lightly what you entrusted to me. I will treasure it, and I will absolutely wear it proudly while I’m up on those bars.
And to everyone who told Ruthie all those years ago, “This will never fly!!”…
It fu***ng flew. 🦶And it’s still flying 🖤👣🔥