It looked like round table meeting of a group of them. Each of them were of different sizes and shapes and kind, though all of them were of the same category.

Those who participated in the round table meeting were blue designer sneakers, black narrow stilettos, a strappy red wedge heels, brown shiny loafers and flat plain sandals.

Presenting a peek into their conversation 🙂 For the ease of reading, when they speak, they will be referred to without their adjectives. After all, adjectives is what we give them, based on how we see them 🙂

Loafers: I am confused. Why do humans use us as a reference when they talk about understanding others?

Stilettos: Interesting question!! I didn’t think about this. Yeah, why do they?

Sneakers: Oh well!! They don’t use all of you as a reference. They use me. They only say – put yourself in other’s shoes.

Sandals: Oh god!! Everything need not be all about you. Shoes is only a reference. I think it refers to all of us footwear. We are the ones they can try to fit into and remove it if they don’t. We are also the ones who are easier to take when left unattended to, especially if someone thinks that they can fit into us.

Wedge heels: Let’s get to the point now! I know where you are all coming from. So what’s the issue?

Sandals: Actually, I think this idiom is so whatever. If I belong to someone, then only that person can wear me and feel comfortable. That also may not be always. Sometimes they may not be able to fit themselves in me, if their feet size changes. That’s when they say, “Oh god, how was I even in that sandal (situation) for such a long time?”.

Wedge heels: Oh you are so right. I know people who see me in one corner and want to try wearing me. Some people wear me and attempt to walk. They totter and fall and say, “I don’t know how the person who is wearing this is able to do so. It is so risky.” I really don’t understand it. Without experiencing me for sometime, how can they pass a judgment on me saying that I am risky.What do they know about me and why who is wearing me is wearing me? They just lived in me for a few seconds or a few minutes. Is that enough for them to say what they say?

Stilettos: I can so empathise with you. Though I think it is worse for me. Barely does anyone want to step into me. Some think I am too narrow and some think that I am too high. It isn’t easy to wear me and those who do are specialised in the art of walking with me. My context is so different.

Sneakers: My context is different from yours. Many people think I am easy to wear and they do. When they start walking in me is when they feel that I am either loose for them or tight for them. Of course, there are those times when someone feels that I am just right for them and that’s few and far between. Very few people understand how I am and what I am; and why I am what I am.

Loafers: To add to what you say, though there are many loafers like me, I am made to fit one person and I am unique to that person. It is rare for another person to wear me and feel comfortable.

Sandals: Which is why it ain’t easy for anyone and everyone to put themselves in me and be in comfort.

Stilettos: And, someone can wear me for a short period of time and can carry themselves for a certain distance. After that, they may not want to, as it isn’t easy to understand the discomfort they may have. I wonder if wearing me is so tough!!

Wedge heels: There are also some who don’t always want to be in us. That is perhaps why they keep changing their shoes (situation) to make themselves feel better or energised or rejuvenated. It isn’t easy to be in your own shoes all the time!!! or rather should I say your own wedge heels!!

Sandals: Well, people say that I am very simple and anyone can slip into me anytime. What they don’t understand is that though I may appear simple to put themselves into, I am not theirs. Understanding can happen only that much!!

I don’t know why someone started to use us as a point of reference. Whoever did, they may have had a reason to. However, I think that

– not everyone can put themselves completely in us.

– some of them can walk in us for sometime and until then they may understand how it is. But that’s only as much as they can do..

– some may be put off by us or may not want to put themselves in us and may stay away from us. That’s who they are and it’s ok. We are what we are and we can’t change our context because we want them to walk in us…

– there are those rare few, other than who we belong to (for whatever time that may be for) who maybe able to fit into us or rather put themselves in us. It feels good isn’t it, when that happens? We then hear good things about ourselves. Feels nice to hear nice things!! We walk better then, don’t we?

When loafers, stilettos, sneakers and wedge heels heard what Sandals said, each of them nodded their ‘sole’ in agreement and reflected on their own unique journey. It was a moment for them to revel in the fact that they helped someone or some few to walk in them.

One size doesn’t fit all but it may fit some for most time or some for some time.

Absolute empathy may not be a possibility but understanding may definitely be a possibility!! That’s when companionship begins!!