As a human, I am innately curious. It’s human nature to wonder about life and what causes certain people to react the way they do. However, as a person with a bachelor’s degree in social work, I feel that my curiosity is particularly heightened. I have always wanted to be that person; the one who runs to people’s rescue with the magic wand to fix all of their ailments. I guess you can say my heart is bigger than my conscience.

That being said though, I have always been naturally curious, or nosey if you want me to be completely honest. I have always wondered how other people’s family life played out, what they did when they got home, how their bedrooms are decorated and so on.

When I study the shoes next to me in the bathroom stall, I wonder where their journey has taken them. If their shoes were worn, I would wonder why they were so worn. Were or are they an avid walker or hiker? Did or does their job require them to be on their feet more than the average person?

If their shoes were brand new, I would wonder if they had just bought them. Maybe they have a job that requires that they stay stationary and not move around a whole lot? Maybe they work in an office where their paperwork stack is taller than them? There is no telling how many steps those shoes have endured. How much happiness they have endured. How much sadness and darkness they have overcome.

Another intriguing thing to study would be the color and style. You often wonder what makes people feel compelled to choose a certain color. It could be their favorite color or be a reflection of their mood on that particular day.

I like to think of everyone’s life as a blank canvas. We are responsible for the way in which we paint our canvas. Colors choices can say a lot about how we are feeling or what we are experiencing. I think that we should be more cautious when judging other’s color choices, moods, and overall life choices. We may never know how much they are struggling, how much they have endured, or how their feelings must be validated. We will never know until we attempt to “borrow their shoes.”