Tennis Shoes are the Answer!

“I used to care so much about what others think about I almost didn't have a thought of my own” ~ Natasha Bedingfield
 
A friend of mine recently shared a picture of her granddaughter on Facebook going to the 8th grade promotion dance.  It was an adorable picture of her smiling granddaughter in a cute white dress with pleats and lace and her date in a jacket with a red bow tie.  It wasn’t until I clicked on the picture that I saw the complete photograph that showed the couple wearing high top Vans tennis shoes; she was in red tennis shoes that matched her red wrist corsage and he in blue high tops.  I just loved it.  If you are going to a dance and want to dance a lot and enjoy it, you should wear tennis shoes! Tennis shoes are indeed the answer!
 
How many times have I gone to proms, dances, and weddings and worn shoes that weren’t ideal for dancing?  I have never worn high heals – I would break a leg walking in high heals – so dancing in them would be out of the question.  I am not a “girly” girl who lusts after Jimmy Choo shoes, but whenever I have gone to dances I have worn “dressy” shoes.  One of my keys to purchasing shoes is comfort, but seeing these kids wear tennis shoes shows me that I cared about what others thought about me as I would never have worn tennis shoes to a dance. And I must also ask, what is the point of those high heels and most women take them off and dance in bare feet.  So, once again I believe tennis shoes are the answer.
 
The peer pressure I felt in elementary school, high school and college made me always think and care what others would thought about what I wore, how I looked and how I would fit in.  Although, I must admit in some of the recent pictures people are posting online, I wished some friends would have given me a little more fashion advice.  The picture of the kids in their high top tennis shoes and the quote from Natasha Bedinfield’s song remind me of the importance of doing what is right for me and knowing in my heart that it doesn’t matter what others think.  What others think is usually a reflection of them and not me.  So, I learned a great lesson from these 8th graders.  I must always be open to learn and recognize that teachers come in all ages.  They taught me a great lesson: Tennis shoes are the answer!
 
Would you wear tennis shoes to a dance?
 
How much time do you spend worrying about what others think?