Can you ever really walk a mile in someone’s shoes? Like what does that even mean? Even if you were subjected to identical circumstances of another there would remain some very fundamental differences, primarily the fact that you are uniquely you.
Not only is that a fundamental difference, it’s also the very best part of it all. You can only be uniquely you. It’s why siblings who are subjected to an identical upbringing can turn out completely different. We each have our own unique perceptions, predispositions and manner of being. Hence, we can never truly walk a mile in someone’s shoes nor they in yours.
What they may perceive as a hardship, you may perceive as an opportunity. What they may perceive as inadequacy, you may perceive as having just enough to be happy and make something wonderful happen.
It seems the saying, “before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes” is inherently judgmental and ultimately does the very thing that it warns you not to do. It’s judging you for judging someone else. Thus, the cycle continues.
So let’s reword it with this quote that says it best…
