A rambling tribute to my feet
by Elouise
A rambling tribute to my feet
and farewell to stubborn internal
voices calling out to entice me
into showing up at all costs –
the sign of honored membership in a
mythical club of the elderly who
never seem to weary or grow faint
Though yesterday’s good girl has
long since faded into the sunset
I’m torn by desire to ‘be there!’ with
a smile on my face and tormented
feet in my shoes faithfully trying
to catch me up or stop me cold
in my tracks before it’s over and done
lost in a confusion of days and years
of showing up now gone forever
Or how about this? I think I’m finally learning to listen to my feet. Not just my heart, gut or kidneys. I emphatically don’t like having to do this. For years I haven’t given more than a passing thought to my feet.
Showing up (on my feet) is something I’ve done habitually most of my life. My feet made sure I was on time and prepared. On time and energized. On time and ready to work hard. On time and ready to push that boulder or climb that trail to the top of the hill.
If there’s an up-side to this, it’s relief that my feet aren’t scolding me. They’re begging me to pay attention to them. Suggesting I might stop and rest after that glorious walk through the meadow, or that trip to the grocery store. Or I might even give them special treatment the way I give Smudge the cat special treatment every day.
Here’s my bottom line: ‘I don’t want to run my feet into the ground before it’s time for me to join them.’
If that sounds morbid, so be it. It’s my informal mantra for this coming week. What’s yours?
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 20 October 2018
Photo taken by DAFraser, February 2018 in the Longwood Gardens Conservatory
I like your mantra, made me realize how after a long day on my toes/feet, how they long to be set up and taken off the floor. But when I’m about the house, they adore being bare and feeling the earth below them, even if it makes them filthy, but have to pay attention to them or else ❤
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Yes to being barefoot! Just so there’s a bit of carpet beneath my feet 🙂 Today I practiced taking breaks and getting my feet up. I think I could get addicted….
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I am so grateful that I’m still able to walk and enjoy the mobility that I have. I do make sure my feet don’t get squeezed into shoes that are too tight, or with high heels. If a pair give me blisters, out they go at once!
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Yes! I’m totally with you when it comes to sensible shoes.
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‘I don’t want to run my feet into the ground before it’s time for me to join them.’ Nicely put.
I have some similar feelings. I have skin cancer, a memento of my carefree childhood days when I spent every summer day with my skin almost completely bare. Now, I’m paying the price with regular visits to the dermatologist to freeze the pre-cancer spots on my face. I’ve lost an ear, and just had some skin removed from my cheek. I feel that I am gradually coming to the end.
But coming to the end. Doesn’t that happen the moment we are born? That’s life. I’m happy to have enjoyed nearly 89 years, and am looking forward to whatever is left.
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Hi, Waldo. I’m so sorry to hear about your skin cancer problems. I have them, too, thanks to Renich genes (I think), and sunny California plus the sunbathing craze of the 50s, 60s and 70s.
As for coming to the end, yes, we’re headed for the end from the moment we’re born. I guess when we get there, we won’t need all those bits and pieces the dermatologists have taken from us. 🙂
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We never really appreciate out feet do we? It’s not until we start getting on in years that they seem to say “Hey how about us down here”;
I now give mine a regular treat with a visit to my podiatrist
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I”m in awe of friends who give their feet special treatment like that. I think it’s time to join the club! 😊🐾👣🎶
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I have a marvellous, young, Japanese man (although he’s more Australian than I am )that does mine, and when I leave I’m literally walking on air.
I’ve been going to podiatrists the last 10/15 years, Well worth the effort.
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I like this! I think my feet might like this even more! 🙂 Thanks, Brian.
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All your posts are so beautiful and eloquent!
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Thank you kindly, Lea! 🙂
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Three keys to good health learned in chaplaincy supervision. 1 the teeth indicator of all that we take into our body. 2 The feet indicator of how well we are able to balance our whole temple of God 3 The back indicator of the very core from which all our body is supported
Just a memory floating into my mind from didactic heard long ago.
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Forgot to mention. Great Picture
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Thank you kindly 🙏🏻
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