Baffled by the 6-incher

As a woman, there's one thing that's always confused me about our gender.

The need to wear overly high heels.

What did you think I was referring to?...And now you can remove your head from the gutter.

But really, what's the point? Sure, I get the idea of heels making your calves and ass look amazing, and they sure do help, but from my experience this can be accomplished with a small heel - inch or two tops will suffice.

What's more, I'm a shorty! Topping out at 5'3" there are days where I could use the extra height, but honestly, my favorite pair of dress shoes are a black, round toe MaryJane that maybe, just maybe bring me to 5'5". I suppose I've embraced my short stature, but I still don't get the women out there who think they need shoes like this to survive.

Okay, so that's an exaggeration, of course. But I just saw this girl walking in my building in what was probably 5" heels and she was walking as if she was healing from two broken legs. She was wobbly and clearly very uncomfortable. Not to mention that she was moving at a snails pace, because really, who can take a normal stride in tall, pointy shoes?

I mean really, this just doesn't look comfortable.

In this country, our obsession with high, tight, pointy, uncomfortable women's shoes boarders on insanity. When I see a woman who has stuffed her feet into a pair of pumps that her tootsies clearly want to revolt against (have you seen the women whose feet spill over the side of their shoes because they're shoved in so tightly - it looks like they have foot fat, seriously), I can't help but think about the foot binding that Chinese women are subjected to.

So my question is this - can anyone explain to me exactly what the point is?

Cute shoes don't have to be this uncomfortable. And as I noted before, an inch or two will get just about anyone where they want to be with that extra lift. So unless you're 4'6" and really, truly need the extra height, what's the point?

I'm sticking with my comfy 1 inchers and keeping my head high - well as high as it can go - and being proud of my short little legs.

Cheers!

-A

An inward focus

As I was listening to one of those brain-dead radio shows last week, there (inadvertently) was a rather smart message that came across.

One of the hosts was going on about how he cares about what the hosts of other shows on their network think and what they say about their show. Host #2 gave him tons of crap about that - who gives a shit what everyone else thinks. More than that, why do you care about what they DO? Who has time to worry about what other people are doing?

Good point!

At this point in time, many of us live our lives very publicly - online! Things like Facebook and Twitter and Foursquare not only let people tell others what they are up to at every moment of every day, but now they can tell others exactly where they are doing it.

Facebook has become less about connecting with others and sharing common interests and more about bragging rights.

I'll admit, after spending much time on Facebook, I'm a little jaded. I see so many people everyday with nothing better to do than bitch and moan about things they don't like and to spend time crafting the perfect status update to let everyone know, once again, just how awesome they are.

So what's to come is highly opinionated.

In this virtual age we're in, people are spending more time lurking online. I'll admit, I do it from time to time - especially with blogs. I often read and never comment, mainly because I don't have anything witty or worthwhile to say.

People are doing this with all social media channels, and I think it's sparking competition where none existed before. Status updates are used to "one up" people that are supposed to be your "friends." Photos and videos are posted to prove a point. Real life friends are turning against one another because someone hung out with the group and didn't invite someone else, and they're posting it all on Facebook just to hurt those that were left out.

Cyber-bullying!

And it's not just limited to kids. In fact, I often think that adults are more prone to this type of behavior. I won't even go into the passive-aggressive behavior that's out there. You can read my thoughts on that here.

For most of us who spend any amount of time in the online world, we've either seen or experienced this first hand.

I often hear people complain about the "lifecasters," those people who broadcast every move they make, "I'm at work," "I'm at home," "I just pooped and there was corn in it." (I can't take credit for that one...came from a much wittier friend), but you get the idea.

But I think my biggest gripe is the people out there who are just trying to be assholes.

....

Okay, so this got quite a bit off topic, let me get back.

The point was that so many people spend so much of their waking lives these days worried about what others are doing, saying and thinking (this is made easier by the social media channels noted above, and by the lifecasters who post every move they make...see it all comes together somehow), that maybe it's time to take a look inward for a change and focus on what you are doing.*

We've all been there at some point, thinking about what someone else is doing, caring what their thoughts are, but when you look at the big picture, who has time for that?

Last week I spent a little time reflecting on the things in my life, the things that are missing. I've never been the type of person to have one focus in life. I love my job, I love my family, I love skydiving, I love blogging, but any one of these things by themselves are not enough. I like to be multi-dimensional I suppose.

A big part of my life that's been missing lately is my photography - something I've been meaning to get back. So I've made a plan to get that back. And hopefully I can start sharing some fun stuff with y'all again, right here :).

But remember how I mentioned not having time enough time in the day - well that just slapped me upside the head as I continue to ramble. So I'm off to get back to my day.

Thanks for letting me rant - what's your rant of the day?

Cheers!

Ashley

*Many life lessons have recently pointed to the idea that you should embrace how you're living your life, be proud of the choices that you make and to love the life you lead - no matter what others say.