They always say to walk a mile in someone else's shoes, not my shoes!

Lynae N.

March 14, 2010 - 9:53 PM

This past weekend my husband took the car to take a very big very important test in Salem. This left me car-less on Saturday morning. I needed to get to my internship to see clients. I had my bus route mapped out and didn't think anything when I put on knee high boots with stiletto heels. Little did I know what was in store for my feet that morning.

Before leaving for the bus stop, I decided that I was going to clean the house up and get the floors mopped and vacuumed. These chores are hard to do during the week and I knew our weekend was full with meetings, lesson planning, homework, and paper writing. I made quick work of cleaning and in my frenzy I mixed up the time that I needed to get on the first bus with the transfer bus. The result: I got on the wrong bus!

I realized my mistake when I was about a minute from the downtown Eugene bus station. I was too far away from the house to make it back and change for the trip I would have to make to get where I needed to go. I looked at my watch, 9:35 am. I had a client at 10:00 am. I scanned the bus station panicked looking for any bus that might get me closer to where I needed to go. There were no buses in sight.

I was off like a flash in my boots, professional pants, thick sweater, wool coat, and full shoulder bag. I have never walked so fast in thin heels. I'm sure I looked ridiculous walk-jogging with my arms full of coat, bag, and fumbling through the numbers in my phone and making failed attempt after failed attempt to make a rescue call. When I came to hills, the incline with the spiky heels made it so that I could run and I ran up every hill I came to. The sun was shining and although I am not normally someone who sweats, the combination of the exertion and the stress made me feel sticky and wet. That was uncomfortable but it was nothing compared to my feet. Every step started to make my feet more and more aware of the unkind task they were being forced to do. I just wanted to slow down and take my time or to call my clients and cancel. I wasn't in the position to do either and every time I looked at my watch it pressed me to keep going harder and faster.

It was 10:04 am. I was officially late, now walk-jog-limping down the busy road towards my internship discouraged, hurting, and rehearsing how I would explain my tardiness to my clients. I decided to check my work voicemail and see if they had called to see where I was. There was a message but instead of asking where I was, they were letting me know they would not make it for session.

I tell you what; I have never been so relieved to have a client cancel before in my life. I didn't care about the trek I made to be there for them. I slowed down and leisurely strolled the remaining block between me and my internship. I hobbled up the stairs and collapsed into the office chair at 10:10 am. I pulled the boots off of my swollen feet and wasn't surprised to see three large blisters on my feet and raw throbbing flesh everywhere else. I was thankful that I had some lotion with me and did my best to give my feet a little TLC before my next client came in. I mapped out my journey and learned that I walked a total of 2 ¼ miles loaded down with a heavy bag and a coat in stilettos in 35 minutes!

I have never had a problem with my shoes before, but then again I've never pushed my luck like I did on Saturday. The sad thing is, after all of that, my other client didn't show up and I was left sitting in my office, I didn't see any clients, and I knew I had to walk about another ½ mile to make it to the nearest running bus line. I cringed and worked up the courage to head out and was able to make my way home. By the time I got home, I had bruises on the bottoms of my feet and one of the blisters had popped. OUCH!

I soaked my feet in a hot bath, rubbed lotion into them and have been walking around in fuzzy fluffy socks in my oversized cushy bubblegum pink slippers. I know it is said to truly understand someone's experience you have to walk a mile in their shoes. I would never will a mile in my shoes on anyone!