Posted on Friday, 20th November 2009 by Catherine
I am wearing a pair of shoes.
They are ugly shoes.
Uncomfortable shoes.
I hate my shoes.
Each time I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair.
Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step.
Yet, I continue to wear them.
I get funny looks wearing these shoes.
I can tell in others eyes that they are glad they are my shoes and not
theirs.
They never talk about my shoes.
To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.
To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them.
But, once you put them on, you can never take them off.
I realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes.
There are many pairs in this world.
Some women ache daily as they try and walk in them.
Some have learned how to walk in them so they don’t hurt quite as much.
Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go by before they think
about how much they hurt.
No woman deserves to wear these shoes.
Yet, because of these shoes I am a stronger woman.
These shoes have given me the strength to face anything.
They have helped shape me into who I am today
I will forever walk in the shoes of a woman who has a child with cancer.
~Author Unknown
This is the poem that inspired my launch of the shoe analogy . I think about his poem a lot when I am feeling sorry for myself I think about how there are many other shoes I could have to wear that might be worse. There are days when my cancer shoes are MUCH better and other mom’s cancer shoes and sometimes worse. You see where I am heading with this? Who doesn’t love to talk about shoes and they can be related back to your life and what is “going on” in your life. I will continue to relate things back to coping ideas and simplicity and perspective just with a “shoe” twist. I have ideas galore including t-shirts (What is YOUR shoe status?), downloads from the site and some outrageous unique shoes I will soon be sporting around town. Photos will be posted.
I would love your feedback on this concept and if you think of any ideas pass them on please!! Walk tall in your shoes today because you can’t get today back.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Love it! Seriously good idea! The imagery is so great.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I have so many ideas floating around it is keeping me up at night! Very exciting!
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
What a great idea Cath! I LOVE IT! As they say, “if the shoe fits, wear it”. And you do wear it so well. Love you!
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I love this. The Poem made me think of my Aunt. She is my Mom’s sister and about a year after I went in the AF her son (one of my favorite cousin’s) was killed in a car accident. He was 20 years old. When I was home for my mom’s cancer surgery in April I went to lunch with my Aunt and she told me how after Russell was killed her friends seemed to disappear. She expected they would rally, but she said it felt as if she had a contagious disease or something. She their silence was so hurtful, she didn’t understand. I don’t know the reasons behind it. I was living in Florida didn’t experience it first hand, but I told her I wondered if they didn’t know what to say… if they were so afraid of saying the wrong thing they said nothing. I wonder if they were afraid of her “shoes”. Your book has helped so many deal with cancer and stressful life events, I wonder if there are books for those on the “outside” looking in? This one really got me thinking….
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 am
Thanks for posting that, Catherine. Shoes are a fantastic analogy. We all have them; some are battered and torn, some are just awful, some are new and not so broken in. I have learned to put “fancy shoelaces” on my shoes to take the “ick” out of wearing them. You inspire me to walk tall in my shoes, the same way that you do everyday. Thanks.