Abantu Bami,

The Zulu man from South Africa is here addressing you as “My People”. Yes, I have been busy, but my thoughts are always with the intent of sharing some valuable lessons that I pick up as I traverse through life. I hope reading it is always a value addition to you.

I have been told by friends and colleagues that I love shoes, but I have also been told that what people first notice about you is your shoes. Having said that, everyone has various shoe sizes. Interestingly, different countries have diverse tags for sizes- for instance, size 42 in Europe is the same as size 8 in the United States. Let’s think together on Shoe size vs Leg size.

Shoe size, in my own parlance, is the size of the finished product, but it varies by manufacturer. Conversely, a person who sends someone to help buy a pair of shoes will tell the person to purchase a particular size, which is known to be their size.

Leg size is a natural and constant factor which is adorned by the shoe. It is usually fixed in adults, and different types of men’s shoes, such as trainers, moccasins, Oxford brogues, can be worn on the same legs, while ladies can wear ballerinas, gladiators, platforms, etc.

However, the experience from one shoe to another varies. Some could be tight, and some could be loose, but the size tag would be the same.

What is the drift of today’s discourse? There is no one-size-fits-all in life; be ready to have varying experiences at all times. Every matter should be treated on its own merit.

Not all parameters can be the same, even if they carry the same face value. It is only you who knows where the shoe pinches because nobody can have the same experience as you.

Be cheerful in all your experiences.

Cheers!

Olutayo