In 2016 I was traveling onsite to Baltimore, MD, for my client every other week. My fellow consultant Mike was on the same schedule, and we'd reconnect either in the hotel lobby or in the office.
One Monday morning, when Mike arrived in the office, I happened to notice that he was wearing a fancy new pair of dress shoes. Unlike people questioned by Morgan Freeman's character in The Shawshank Redemption, I do often look at other people's shoes. I think a person's choice of shoes is one indicator of his or her sensibility. You can see how much pain they are willing to put themselves in for the sake of fashion. As Al Pacino's character once growled in The Devil's Advocate: "Vanity...my favorite sin."
I said to Mike, "Hey, those are some fancy new shoes you got there." He replied, "Thanks! Ready to break them in." I then apparently made the mistake of asking, "Are those orthopedic shoes?" Mike's face immediately changed from the friendly welcome-back-to-the-office look to offense and disgust. He lowered his voice into a near whisper to avoid anyone else hearing him. "How dare you!" I knew Mike long enough to know it was a semi-joking reaction. You might wonder what the joke is here, so let me back up to explain.
Mike and I work in the health insurance industry, so even though we both had never owned orthopedic shoes, we know what they are. Orthopedic shoes are typically custom-made shoes designed to address a variety of specific diseases and disorders of feet. These shoes are commonly prescribed by podiatrists for diabetics who routinely have foot problems as the disease progresses. Since they are custom, they are typically more expensive than typical shoes of the same style. They are also not exactly fashion-friendly. So that explains Mike's guffawing at the mere suggestion that he deigns to wear orthopedic shoes. Luckily, I was prepared with a quick retort.
"Hey, you should take it as a compliment! First, I recognize that you're a man of means and can afford expensive custom shoes. Second, I held you in the esteem of someone who cares so much about his health that he would seek a healthcare professional and follow through with a recommendation to improve it. And third, that you found shoes that are comfortable AND stylish, which suggests your taste and sophistication."
In the end, it was a funny exchange. I'm just glad I haven't had to wear dress shoes for over three years. Let's hope that I've done enough biohacking and stay the course so that I will not eventually need to wear orthopedic shoes.
One Monday morning, when Mike arrived in the office, I happened to notice that he was wearing a fancy new pair of dress shoes. Unlike people questioned by Morgan Freeman's character in The Shawshank Redemption, I do often look at other people's shoes. I think a person's choice of shoes is one indicator of his or her sensibility. You can see how much pain they are willing to put themselves in for the sake of fashion. As Al Pacino's character once growled in The Devil's Advocate: "Vanity...my favorite sin."
I said to Mike, "Hey, those are some fancy new shoes you got there." He replied, "Thanks! Ready to break them in." I then apparently made the mistake of asking, "Are those orthopedic shoes?" Mike's face immediately changed from the friendly welcome-back-to-the-office look to offense and disgust. He lowered his voice into a near whisper to avoid anyone else hearing him. "How dare you!" I knew Mike long enough to know it was a semi-joking reaction. You might wonder what the joke is here, so let me back up to explain.
Mike and I work in the health insurance industry, so even though we both had never owned orthopedic shoes, we know what they are. Orthopedic shoes are typically custom-made shoes designed to address a variety of specific diseases and disorders of feet. These shoes are commonly prescribed by podiatrists for diabetics who routinely have foot problems as the disease progresses. Since they are custom, they are typically more expensive than typical shoes of the same style. They are also not exactly fashion-friendly. So that explains Mike's guffawing at the mere suggestion that he deigns to wear orthopedic shoes. Luckily, I was prepared with a quick retort.
"Hey, you should take it as a compliment! First, I recognize that you're a man of means and can afford expensive custom shoes. Second, I held you in the esteem of someone who cares so much about his health that he would seek a healthcare professional and follow through with a recommendation to improve it. And third, that you found shoes that are comfortable AND stylish, which suggests your taste and sophistication."
In the end, it was a funny exchange. I'm just glad I haven't had to wear dress shoes for over three years. Let's hope that I've done enough biohacking and stay the course so that I will not eventually need to wear orthopedic shoes.
keni
