I have, for the past 30 days been without my comfort zone of high heeled shoes. I got in an accident and have been unable to wear the heels I would normally trot around in so proudly. It isn't just how the shoes have made me feel, but the fact that they have become a part of my persona. People know my by my shoes and the love I have for them.
This week I had to go to a conference, and I was dreading it. Even during the packing process of getting ready for #itaF11 (Information Technology Alliance 2011 Conference in Austin, TX) I was worried what people would think of me at actual size. At first it was the double takes as people couldn't tell if it was actually me. Then came the "you are really short" jokes as I explained my story. Followed by the taunting from my boss Stephen Blythe (@SBlythe), who knows about my love of shoes and decided to point out all of the others wearing shoes I would normally wear, like the one featured in this picture below with my boss on the left, me in the center and Tammy Mathews (@TammyMathews) from Sage Software on the right. This was the shoe of @ScanSnapKim which was, by the way, terrific. Ed Kless (@EdKless) mentioned I should start a separate twitter account of Actual Size Apryl Hanson - which is probably too many words - we could shorten it to AAAH - which might already be taken...but none-the-less, his comment to propel me in my shorten version of myself to say things I might not normally say.
So what did I learn by this humbling experience of being my actual size. Well, we do all have persona's about ourselves that we like to maintain. We want people to view us the way we want to be viewed, sometimes not the way that we actually are. It isn't that I've been trying to HIDE my size, because I like my height, but the persona as the girl who wears outrageous shoes makes me feel like I can defy gravity. I feel powerful, because very few people would dare to wear the shoes I do in the settings I wear them in. For the most part, the shoes that I wear would hurt most women's feet, but I have grown accustomed to them and my feet and legs are those of a dancer, so they can take a beating.
I also learned that no matter what the persona is that you have developed for yourself, people still know who you are, at least those people who work with you and your friends and family.
Being at actual size really hasn't been that bad although @SBlythe is trying to convince my teams that "I've sworn of my love for shoes". I have enjoyed viewing the world from a slightly different height, but look forward to the time when I can again return to my high heel stature.
This week I had to go to a conference, and I was dreading it. Even during the packing process of getting ready for #itaF11 (Information Technology Alliance 2011 Conference in Austin, TX) I was worried what people would think of me at actual size. At first it was the double takes as people couldn't tell if it was actually me. Then came the "you are really short" jokes as I explained my story. Followed by the taunting from my boss Stephen Blythe (@SBlythe), who knows about my love of shoes and decided to point out all of the others wearing shoes I would normally wear, like the one featured in this picture below with my boss on the left, me in the center and Tammy Mathews (@TammyMathews) from Sage Software on the right. This was the shoe of @ScanSnapKim which was, by the way, terrific. Ed Kless (@EdKless) mentioned I should start a separate twitter account of Actual Size Apryl Hanson - which is probably too many words - we could shorten it to AAAH - which might already be taken...but none-the-less, his comment to propel me in my shorten version of myself to say things I might not normally say.
So what did I learn by this humbling experience of being my actual size. Well, we do all have persona's about ourselves that we like to maintain. We want people to view us the way we want to be viewed, sometimes not the way that we actually are. It isn't that I've been trying to HIDE my size, because I like my height, but the persona as the girl who wears outrageous shoes makes me feel like I can defy gravity. I feel powerful, because very few people would dare to wear the shoes I do in the settings I wear them in. For the most part, the shoes that I wear would hurt most women's feet, but I have grown accustomed to them and my feet and legs are those of a dancer, so they can take a beating.
I also learned that no matter what the persona is that you have developed for yourself, people still know who you are, at least those people who work with you and your friends and family.
Being at actual size really hasn't been that bad although @SBlythe is trying to convince my teams that "I've sworn of my love for shoes". I have enjoyed viewing the world from a slightly different height, but look forward to the time when I can again return to my high heel stature.
It makes sense you like Scan Snap Kim...She always has neat shoes on too. Me, I'm all for comfort and go with classic Clarks! If the shoe fits, wear it!
ReplyDeleteI sympathize being of small stature myself. Don't let them tease - low heals don't make the person - though they do give a different viewpoint!
ReplyDeleteGood things come in little packages!
Enjoyed the blog.
I guess that technically now I am looking for comfort when it comes to shoes. As a ballerina, I did spend one other year of my life walking with a cane and comfortable shoes due to a foot injury. After that, my obsession over heeled shoes came out even more. I actually think I was depressed that year because the shoe selections were so grim, trying to find something stylish and comfortable. I didn't understand why I had to choose. I would like to be like Train's Meet Virgina song "Wear's high heels when she exercises, ain't that beautiful". - I would wear them all the time if I could...if nothing other than to look at them.
ReplyDelete