Tie Your Shoestrings Well

I will be the very first to admit that I’ve stolen the title of this blog from Werner Herzog. Mr. Herzog was interviewed on Science Friday and this is part of his answer to the despondency over the American election results. He said in part, “Tie your shoestrings well. Keep on walking.”

I think this an idea that can be applied much farther than consolation to those who are grieving their political losses. For those who have lost, they must find a way forward, listen to the lessons learned and hear the anger expressed through the voting process.

It also speaks to the winners who now carry an enormous responsibility for everyone. Take care that all are carried forward, not just the rich but the poor, the hungry, and the sick. They also must find their way forward and heal the anger that elected them and the anger spawned by their victory.

Outside the political arena, we all need to tie our shoes well. Those that grieve the loss of a loved one, struggle to face each day. They wake each morning and wonder how are they going to get through the waking hours when raw grief rides their backs like a hidden leopard ready to pounce and tear them limb from limb on the subway, at work, walking alone down the street. They wait out the day, in fear, being hunted by grief, until the sleep finally pulls them down to numbing oblivion for a few short hours. Each day, they tie their shoes well and keep walking among us, who are unconscious of their pain.

Those who are sick wade through the physical and psychological pain of illness. It is a long and lonely road full of bureaucracy and sacrifice. They must face new procedures, inadequate treatment plans, and expenses that no one should worry about while ill.  Each day they tie their shoes well and keep walking.

Parents work hard each day to provide food, shelter,  and clothing for their children. Some in the face of joblessness and homelessness. Parenting is tough even when those things are satisfied. I don’t know any parent who hasn’t knelt down at the end of a tough day and asked for the strength to carry on. Sometime the next day, they tie their shoestrings well and walk on.

We each have our own burdens, our own life stories, our own weakness, strengths and passions. Our shoes are very different one from another. That is why another famous proverb comes to mind about not judging each other until we have walked a mile in their shoes. I think I’ll keep this old proverb in mind as well as the new. These are my shoes, well worn and well tied. I’ll keep walking one foot in front of the other this day and the next but I’ll also mind those beside me who’s shoes may be broken or who are barefoot or who have stumbled and fallen.