Walking Through the World
I saw a “woman of a certain age” walking into Publix recently who was totally dressed up for the occasion. Whether she was on her way somewhere or just felt like looking good while picking up some groceries, I appreciated the effort.
Her hair was up, she was wearing a leopard print top, leather pants, and very high heeled shoes. I found this woman very inspiring. She was owning her authentic self, putting it out there for the world to see, and (I assume) was proud to share her real self in the way she dressed.
It takes courage to walk through the world showing your authentic self. Someone may not like it, or understand, and our society these days is quick to react. We have lost much of our manners and common respect. In these days of instant outrage, people tend to react before they think.
Of course we should all be more kind and move through the world trying to do no harm. It’s not our place to comment or make someone feel bad just because we don’t understand or we’re uncomfortable in some way.
There was a time when I thought about all of this a lot, then I moved past this and was more comfortable in my skin. But lately I find myself ruminating on this more than I’d like. The world can feel dangerous, and certain important people have made their followers feel empowered to be cruel. A lot of people are trying to grasp some power by throwing stones all around their glass house. We all know how that will end for them.
I was thankful for the example of the woman in the high heels at Publix. She reminded me to be brave and embrace my true self. I try each day to walk through the world confidently and showing my authentic self. And I am happy to let others do the same. I encourage you to be kind as you move amongst so many who are hurting and afraid. Our example might inspire them to think better and be brave themselves.
Tim Hinton
February 2, 2025
