CHOOSING OUR SHOES IN THE MARATHON OF LIFE
From sandals to sneakers, pumps to platforms, moccasins to Mary Janes, ballets to boots…we walk through this human experience in the shoes we choose. Some we pick because they look so good…even if they hurt us and cause discomfort and/or pain. Perhaps we keep them because we believe we will grow into them, that they will get better with time, or that they’re worth wearing…even if only to impress others or convince ourselves that it doesn’t matter if they look better than they feel. Others we wear for comfort and ease. We often hold on to those comfort “shoes” well past their expiration date, never giving up…even when we know they may be falling apart or that we are outgrowing them. We aren’t always ready to admit to ourselves when it’s time to move on and start over with something so fresh and so clean clean, knowing it means confronting the fear of taking that first new unexpected step. Some we choose because they are practical and make the most sense. There is always something to be said for logic and sometimes, simply said, these pairs are the mere requirements that allow us to take on our responsibilities for survival in life. Other shoes help us rise up and stand tall…literally and figuratively. They are the confidence boosters, the ones that remind us to rise above all that stands in our way or teach us to stand up for ourselves, in more ways than one.
Obviously, in place of “shoes,” feel free to insert any of the following words: jobs, homes, habits, relationships/partners/lovers, friends, etc... I think you got the point. But perhaps you never realized what a metaphor our shoes can be for the lives we live. And often, along the way, we discover that until we walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, we either:
a) don’t know how good we already have it
b) didn’t realize how alike we all really are
c) had no idea how much better it could be
d) all of the above
As we step into our own shoes with awareness, and open our minds to the possibility of walking in another’s shoes, we may just find our answers. Or hopefully, perhaps, at least a sense of compassion for ourselves and others, as well as the comradery that makes this marathon of life a little more fun to run together. It may just remind us that what’s most important, lies between where it all begins at the starting line where we take our mark, and the finish line we cross when we have reached the end of this race. The times we are living in can be complicated and divisive, messy and confusing, overwhelming and even awful at times. But also can be equally, if not more, beautiful, and blissful, thrilling, fabulous, miraculous and above all, blessings and gifts we are given in the present (pun intended) to experience. So, let’s experience the journey together, one step at a time! It would be a privilege to have you take a walk with me…IN MY SHOES.
On your mark…get set…go!
“Life (and running) is not all about time but about our experiences along the way.” -Jen Rhines