Online Reporter
Fadzayi Maposah
Correspondent
ON Thursday, I considered myself to be well dressed, in a skirt and a turtle neck (that we call a polo neck) and comfortable shoes.
Since the day that I learnt it is called a turtle neck, I have been referring to it as such and losing some people along the way!
One person laughed their lungs out when I called it a turtle neck and asked me what I wanted to prove, and I simply said I wanted to show that I had learnt something. The way I was walking showed that I was confident with how I looked. I have received very nice compliments when I wear the skirt, that it suits me well and that the way I combine the colours differently with that skirt is good.
Maturity teaches one that quality is more important than quantity. One can have a few clothes, and yet is able to wear them well. While another can have many clothes and fail to combine them well or even buy clothes that do not fit them well.
Every aspect of life is about learning and then applying what one has learnt. While we are open to experiments, we should also be prepared to know what works best together.
There was a time that we would ask shop attendants which colours combine well. Now one can simply go on the internet and get the answers.
Back to my story about what happened on Thursday morning. As I walked I realised that something on my shoe had fallen off. Where it fell off, I had no idea. The accessory had made my shoe more beautiful, but had no effect on the size. I was able to walk properly. That, however, did not happen. There was a dent on my self-esteem. The way that I had been walking may have appeared the same to those who saw me, but I felt that it was not the same. How could it be when the shoe that had added to being well dressed had its beauty affected?
While I could still walk, the confidence levels had been reduced. It was juggling in my mind, how would I deal with the shoe that I had loved with its accessory?
As I walked I thought of removing the piece that still remained on the other shoe so that they would look the same. I also thought of taking my shoe to a cobbler.
I got to work and told a male colleague what had happened and he gave me some ideas. When I asked if he could do any of the things that he had suggested, he said no, all he had were ideas.
I could reach out to other colleagues in the maintenance department, as handy men they could assist me better. I approached a female colleague and asked her to pick out what had gone wrong on me. She failed to pick out the shoe with the missing accessory. The male colleague then pointed it out and the lady was quick to offer different solutions.
Another male colleague who was in the office, said that I was the only one who really knew that something was missing from the shoe. Besides, he said, not everyone pays attention to people’s shoes.
There are days that we have to be at the doctor’s surgery, or health facility. I have come to realise that the person who goes to the health facility and the one that leaves are not the same. Physically, one may appear the same, but a lot of changes have taken place.
The changes affect even one’s composure. It can be relief. It can also be worry. One may have walked in with a limp, and they still limp out, but there are changes that only the individual feels. Same health facility, different lives and different influence or impact.
We should never be quick to judge people. Their burdens are never the same. At times we go to a healthy facility for what might be routine visits that end up with drastic changes. In a flash everything changes. We cannot pinpoint exactly at what stage something that affected our health happened, all we have is knowing that there has been a change. Until someone tells us what has changed, we may never know.
As we provide ideas and suggestions, let us be careful how we present them. It is fine to be clueless and admit that one does not know. In trying to assist, we may end up doing more damage than good.
Health is broad. Those who are good at reproductive health matters want to lecture on mental health issues. I have a very good tailor who has always assisted me when I need an outfit made for any occasion, but as I looked at my shoe without the accessory, I realised that she could not help me.
Neither will my faithful barber. I simply need a creative cobbler so that I can wear my shoe confidently again. Find out where you will get the best assistance regarding your issue.
#16 days to Heroes Day!
