The enlightenment at the "Seruppu kadai "

Two days back, I got myself a new pair of shoes. Like anyone would, I only bought after trying them and walking around the store.

The next day, I wore them to work, and they felt awful and uncomfortable. Painful, even.

 

So the whole day, I was mostly barefoot. That very evening, I wanted to return the shoes, but I was reluctant, because I’d worn them once and they looked slightly soiled.

Still, I took them home, scraped the bottoms with a wet cloth, and made sure they looked new. 

When I told my mom that I was going to return them, she said, “No one in their right mind would refund or exchange old shoes.  It doesn't matter whether you've worn them for an hour, a day, or a month.”

I still wanted to try—‘cause what would I do with shoes that don't fit me? So I went to the store with the shoes, told them they didn't fit, and asked for an exchange. Though they were hesitant at first, after hearing my monologue, they checked with the owner—and to my surprise, they exchanged them. 

It wasn't that big of a deal. But here are a few things I learnt anyway:

1. No matter how pretty the shoes look, if they're uncomfortable, you cannot walk in them.

2. If the shoe doesn't fit, you gotta change your shoes—not chop off your feet.

3. The longer you hold on to the wrong shoes, the harder it is to change. 

4. Persuasion and empathy work wonders.

Like my mom said, anybody with eyes could see that they were worn. But if I’d sworn that I didn't wear them even for a second and demanded an exchange, they would've kicked me out. I was honest, direct, and explained my problem. They empathized and understood.

Or should I say—they put themselves in my shoes?

P.S. ’Twas not about shoes.

Surya Prabha 🌟