Books you don’t need to read

A few days ago, I came across some news that really struck me. In Denmark, there’s something called “The Human Library”, where you don’t borrow a book but rather a person for 30 minutes and listen to their life story. Each person has a title (like “Refugee”, “Unemployed” or “Bipolar”), and the goal of the project is to combat prejudices.

Reading about it made me think about how much we’ve become unaccustomed to talking to each other. We have to make special arrangements to chat now, instead of simply having an impromptu natter at a cafe or in the supermarket queue like our grandparents used to do. It also got me thinking about how fascinating it would be to get to know people just by looking at the shoes they wear in their day-to-day lives. You could write an encyclopaedia about it!

Some people wear sneakers from morning to night, maybe to make the most of every moment of the day to walk around and enjoy their journeys in comfort (perhaps even choosing a longer route). Or maybe it’s because they’re picking up their child from school and then taking them to the park to play, or simply because a relaxing walk at lunchtime is the perfect way to relieve tension and get in the right headspace for the afternoon at work.

Then there are those who compromise on comfort to opt for heels or functional brogues, to add height or stick to the office dress code, only allowing themselves a moment of rebellion when they kick them off under the desk.

And then there are those who find a happy medium, choosing versatile styles that are perfect for any occasion and allow them to glide through the day without having to switch between work and their personal life.

Just looking at the feet of the people around us can give us a glimpse
into their personality and life story.
But if we do choose to stop and chat… maybe we can also share our own stories and find some new travel companions along the way.

I hope I’m like a good book to all of you!

Until the next chapter ❤️