The Sole of Your Journey: The Story of Shoes

by Abolqaz Bin Anuar

What is the importance of a shoe? You wear them for the main purpose of protecting your feet. You wear shoes, every single day of your life. You wear them when you go places. If you regard them as just foot wear then, it seems ordinary, simple and not at all a big deal about them (not enough of a deal to write a story out of it). I see them as more then just something your wear when you go outside.

What is the purpose, for a shoe? It is not just to protect your feet like I mention, but also, a shoe gives you, your identity. The type of shoes that you choose to wear will give you, your sense of identity. It gladly shows the world by the strides you take that this is who you are. For example, a converse shows that you're a laid back fun type of guy, a loafers might bring you the right message that I'm no longer a kid, and want to be taken seriously. You might want to choose a nike high cut design, to tell people that you have talents or skill. A sporty adidas footwear well tell those people around you that, you are competitive and loves sports.

They are a part of your impression, that you expose to those around you without having to say a single word. The style, the color, and the design of your shoes, is what you think of yourself. It is the also the side of you that are most confident about, because that is the part of you, for all the world to see. You can't hide your feet when you walk. You can't private them like some internet social account, which only your closest friend and family to see. Therefore choose your shoes well.

Can you count how many steps you take in a day? Yes you can, but that would be difficult. Shoes are always with you when you're outside the safety confinements of your house. It protects your feet from all the hazard that lays before you, especially the ones you don't see.

They are there with you when you go to school to learn, and they are there with you when you meet your love (high percentage of people meets falls in love outside their house). They are there with you when you're walking happily under the sun, and even stay with you while you trudge sadly on a dark and gloomy day. If you play sports, the shoes will enhance your feet, to make you move better.

You can always tell a man's journey by looking at his shoe. The condition of his shoe, can tell you what he's been through. In my favorite movie of all time (Forest Gump), "My momma always said that you can tell a lot about a person by their shoe, where they're going, we're they've been." It's like the saying, "put yourself in their shoes." Why, because only a man's shoes can truly tells the story of his soul.

Dr.Seuss, once wrote, "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go."

So what is a shoe? It is something, that defies your identity, it is something that you buy to show your pride, it is the savior of you feet, and also the evidence of your journey. 

In the other hand it is still only a shoe.

This was written by a student from Academy of the Redwood

Walk A Mile In My Shoes Poem

Walk a mile in my shoes,
someday you might feel the blues.
See the world though my eyes,
how it feel to hear all lies.

Go a mile in my shoes,
take your time and have a snooze.
Don’t be afraid to get a bruise,
there’s not a chance you’ll be a fool.

Wear my shoes and have some fun,
walk a mile in the sun.
Walk a mile in my shoes
And I will do the same to you.

-by a fabulous and talented first year

 Assalamualaikum