“Put your best foot forward”

May 7, 2011

Today’s Bit of Advice is….

“Put your best foot forward”

I’ve been thinking a lot about feet over the last few weeks.   Not “feet” as in a collection of twelve inches, but the ones on the ends of my legs.  For most of my life I have ignored my feet and not given them credit for all that they do.  A sprain to my foot in college, a bout with plantar fasciitis two years ago, and a recent injury have been exceptions to those times.   Feet are pretty important and you realize that when one or both of them are giving you a problem.

My injury of a few weeks ago occurred because I didn’t take the time to put on my shoes before preparing dinner.  I like to be barefoot (another reason for the plantar fasciitis) especially when I’m in the house.  On the night of the injury I was preparing a pasta dinner for my family.  When the time came to drain the pasta, some of the boiling water splashed back out of the sink on me.  The water that hit my clothes didn’t cause a problem, but the water the fell on my foot was another story.  I sustained a 2^nd degree burn on the top of my right foot that came to an instant blister, then popped leaving me with a shortage of skin.  OUCH was only one of the words that came out of my mouth!

Three weeks later and I am about ready to start wearing shoes again.  Not because I haven’t wanted to wear them but because I couldn’t put my foot into a normal shoe.  Flip-flops have been more constant companion – finding flip-flops that coordinate with your Easter best was a challenge but I did find them. 

I am ready again now to put my best foot and my “not-so-good” foot forward.

But that isn’t the real meaning of the phrase “put your best foot forward.  It means to present yourself in the best way possible.  Sometimes your best won’t be as good as what others have available to give but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try.  Always give your best and that will be enough.

I was recently offered the opportunity to spearhead a large fundraising event.  With no experience in this arena I’ll admit that I’m a bit nervous as to the outcome.   I know in my mind that the event will be wonderful and we will raise lots of money.  But I also know all the things that could go wrong or be problematic.  Those are the things that are keeping me up at night.  But I am putting my best foot forward and working hard to make sure that anything I can control is well planned, well prepared, and well executed.  If problems occur (and a few that are beyond my control will likely happen), I will be comforted in knowing that I’ve given the very best of what I have.  My best foot will have been put forward.

In fact, I’m hoping to have two best feet by then.

Hope you enjoyed the read.