I had a wonderful, unexpected encounter the other day.
I’m in search mode for athletic shoes that won’t bother my Achilles tendon and Haglund’s Deformity. (How’s that for disclosure right off the bat?) If you don’t know what a Haglund’s issue is, I invite you…err caution you…to Dr. Google it.
I resent the oft-applied label for the affliction as a ‘pump bump’. Signifying that stupid women wore high heels for the sake of fashion, dooming them to pain “later” in life. I was not that person and resent the sprouting of extra anatomy on my feet because finding comfy shoes is now a major pain in the…heel.
My shoe vice? My beloved western boots. Turns out, breaking in a new pair every couple of years did some damage, slow and steady, undetectable at the time. I built up cartilage where it didn’t belong as my heels did their jobs, accommodating the stiffness of boots.
I choose to blame my dad, Sonny. He had a love of cowboy boots thanks to work that often took him into the great State of Texas and they became a bit of a trademark for him, style-wise. I’ve written about it, if you want to know more about our love affair with boots. Go take a peek. I’ll wait for you. 😉
As I mentioned, I’ve been in search mode – looking for sporty shoes that will accommodate the extra anatomy on my heels. Name a brand. Any brand. All the brands. I’ve tried them. Giving contenders a walk test in the store, ordering various sizes and incarnations online.
I know what an offset differential means (the mm difference between the toe of a shoe and the heel). I know that a higher ‘stack’ height isn’t a reference to disco platforms. Nope. It means a smidgen of lift, across the entire sole of the shoe, ideal for relieving pressure, if the offset is just right.
Ever optimistic that the ‘just right’ pair is out there, I continued my Goldilocks search when the hubster and I found ourselves in a big box athletic store recently.
Me? I’m in my don’t bother me, incognito look. Dark glasses. And yes, inside – they’re my prescription sunglasses, but they typically ward off unnecessary, idle chit chat with people when I’m focused, too. Bonus!
I didn’t swap out my sunnies for regular eyewear, cause I figured I would do a quick spin and we’d be gone. Hopes dashed once again. Until…I spied a brand I hadn’t yet tried, so I moseyed over to the display and looked things over – checking out the stack and the offset.
I feel a tap on my right shoulder, soft and tentative, followed by a sweet, disembodied voice. Then I realize…not disembodied, the voice is just coming from the sweetest, most petite looking lady I’ve seen in a long time. Delicate. Darling. Especially compared to behemoth me – all 5’11″ with my cushy platform sandals on. (I refuse to call them ‘recovery’ sandals. I’m recovering from nothing, heel issues notwithstanding – I just like the cush.)
The little lady looks to be a good bit older than me, and I’m amazed she’s looking at running shoes, holding two pair in her trembling hands, asking “Sweetie, could you help me?”
I figure she thinks I work at the store and wants try on shoes in her size. I pull my sunglasses down to my nose and prepare to say, “Oh, I don’t work here, but I’ll find someone for you” and I see she’s got tears in her eyes.
Oh no…. surely not…welling up over running shoes? So we moved to a little bench, and she shared that she’d been wandering looking for help and saw other shoppers but no employees. But when she saw me, she knew I was ‘the one’. Whaa?
Turned out she had the right sizes in hand; she’d tried on two pairs and couldn’t decide between them. One pair had a beautiful turquoise blue racing stripe, and the other pair was all utilitarian white.
She said she liked both (which I generally don’t believe – it’s just a lie we tell ourselves when it comes to shoes). I suspected she liked the snazzier pair, based on her enthusiasm for that little blue racing stripe and I guessed they were pricier. Blue stripes cost something, right?
Smiling at her and giving her my best look of deep consideration, I saw her tears were gone. Then I noticed her eyes were nearly the same color as the stripe on the racier looking pair, so I say, “You know what? If you really like them both – from a comfort point of view, I think the pair with the blue stripe must’ve been made for you! They match your lovely eyes.”
The tears came again. I didn’t know whether the sweet lady just needed kindness on the fly or if my offhand comment triggered something deep within – a memory perhaps? As we sat, she began packing up the pair with the blue stripe and said she was going to look for a pretty top in the same color to wear with her new shoes.
As she stood up, she patted me on the hand and thanked me, saying “You’ve made my day. Thank you for taking time for me.”
Wowza. Even now I’ll admit to being slightly teary as I type those words. I’m a believer in positive energy and I’ve aspired to be that person, throughout my life, but I forget. Become self-involved.
I think my encounter with the dear lady about ‘blue stripes or not’ was a reminder to stay open, less focused on myself. Goodness is around every corner if I’m ready to receive.
Which brings me to this. It’s an anonymous quote, so far as I know. A gem:
Never forget your impact on other people is bigger than you think;
Someone still smiles when they think of the compliment you offered
And the kindness of your sincere smile
Choose to make a positive difference for others
Every day. Don’t waste the moments
Here’s to you and whatever wonder and magic you might find today.
Vicki 😊
Victoria Ponders 
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