Big Feet

I feel like I should go on a motivational speaking tour to help people overcome their insecurities with their big feet. From family, to boyfriends, to even me…it’s a common insecurity. Growing up I was fat, but being fat is obvious, people automatically see that. The thing I hated was when I walked closer to someone; they would then noticed and zero in on my ‘big feet’.  “DANGGGG!!! You have some big feet. What size you wear? Is that in women or men?” were the common statements made.  Back then all I knew was that people saw me as the fat girl with long hair and big feet. It takes longer to lose fat so I started with the easiest thing…my feet! I would try to squeeze into my older sister’s smaller sized shoes. Yeah, it did help my look but it also hindered my feet by scrunching them up. My dad wears a size 16/17 and he told me he used to do that when he was younger as well, and now he has horrible feet! He has bunions, corns, callouses, and hammertoes. Well guess what.  I had all those problems except callouses and corns. I’ve had four surgeries to correct both bunions and all my hammertoes, with ease only thanks to my wonderful and lovely podiatrist Dr. Galperin. But why bring damage to your feet in order to feel accepted? Yes, somethings are hereditary but most of that madness can be stopped; you don’t have to bring it upon yourself. If you have big feet…embrace your big feet! However, don’t fall into the jokes. Big feet doesn’t equal a big anything, because obviously you see there is no joke for women with big feet. I wear a size 11 in women which means I buy a size 11, not a 9, not a 10. I’m so happy that the shoe industry is finally recognizing us people with big feet now. I used to hate walking into a shoe store and they look at you like WTF! when you told them your size. Then politely they just escorted you to the back, because no need to get your hopes up to let you pick from the displays, like the rest of the normal feet people. Oh, and don’t think you’re V.I.P. because you’re going to the back where they keep the whole shoe supply. They’re only bringing you back there because of the limited, dusty, ugly inventory that they do have. As I digress; don’t hide your big feet, just find ways to flatter them. As a woman, I own flats and heels. I only own two sneakers, and they are a pair of Ked’s and a pair of Pumas. Nikes automatically make your feet look bigger than they are so I left the Air Force One’s alone a very long time ago. I left Timberland boots alone as well. As far as males go, you don’t really have that many choices. Nike’s, Jordan’s, and some dress shoes may be just about it for men size 14 and up, and they will not and never will make your feet look any smaller. Your best bet is to stay away from skinny jeans because your skinny chicken legs will lead people’s eyes straight to your feet, but if you have some thickness on your legs then you’re good. But don’t let that deter you from wearing shorts in the summer. You don’t want to die of a heat stroke because you’re insecure about the size of your feet. But everything I’ve mentioned is just too much to have to think about and have to dress around. Let’s do something simple…let’s just accept our feet and go on about our day. We were given big feet and that’s all it is to it. Hopefully one day people with big feet will be able to causally tell people their shoe size without having to think about the responses they’ll receive.