Some things, objects and persons in life have their designated purpose but are seldom celebrated because of their sheer inability to make their presence speak loudly. Yet take them out and you’re left virtually immobile and helpless. Look at humble shoestrings, (or shoelaces) that we rarely pay heed to while quickly getting ready. Yet more than just functional fasteners for shoes, they play a crucial role in comfort, safety and even style.
There’s something utilitarian about shoestrings and there’s overriding self-dependence attached to it. A child grows up to small life lessons include learning to making a tight knot while tying the shoelaces, else they’d get undone and make one trip and fall over. Many of us would recall our school teachers would look sternly at untidy boys with dirty shoes and the shoelaces not tied. Parents & teachers exasperated with poor performance at times made unkind remarks using idioms like ‘Can’t even properly tie your shoelaces’. Many hurt by this would (metaphorically) tighten the shoe-laces & ‘pull up their socks’.
There’s also a statement in austerity involved here. We were taught early about working on ‘shoestring’ budgets that forced us to spend frugally and to save for a ‘rainy day’. In today’s times, strict financial planning focuses on essential spending and keeps track of costs incurred. Millennial have realized that ‘borrow & splurge’ isn’t so wise in the long run. ‘Shoestring’ budgets financially come to rescue in paying debts & buying a house.
‘Shoestrings’ mostly remain invisible covered as they are by trousers (or dresses) but look at the stellar role they play as we move on. Generally unaffected by lint or debris, they ensure consistent performance. More than just a detail, they are a fundamental component of footwear, contributing to both the practical functionality and aesthetic appeal of shoes. That said, for senior citizens like us, there’s a problem in bending over & keeping balance while tying the shoelaces. Relax, sit down comfortably & then do it !
Many lessons can be derived here. Being at the lowest rung or order doesn’t diminish the importance of anyone specially in workplaces which have hierarchal set-ups. In my own experience the organisation relies heavily for smooth operations on its ground staff. They form the foundations of efficiency in output. Left loose, the whole system can trip !
Working on Living 