There! I got it out!

For weeks I had been deliberating over my next pair of running shoes.  Adidas Ultraboost were recommended to me. Given my history of plantar fasciitis, I was intrigued by the Ultraboost’s stellar shock absorption reviews.

Unfortunately, the sticker price was higher than I wanted to pay. Covid 19 has hurt my company, greatly, and I am trying to conserve wherever I can. The Ultraboost is normally priced between 100-180 USD.

After calling around, I found a nearby retailer had some older models of the Ultraboost for 70 USD. Hmmm………..  But they were in limited styles, quantities and sizes. After a couple of weeks, I decided to go look myself.

When I went to the retailer, they in fact did have one model for 70 USD (kind of nice looking……..not my size). Oh, but they did have one other pair, a size 12 (my size), and even lower sticker price (60 USD). Wow, I debated, maybe… I do not mind white, orange stripes… look nice. So, I try them on without looking very closely. At about this time the salesman says, “Oh, by the way, these are the special Star Wars Edition!” I am thinking, Are you serious? You have a size 12 (obviously, a large, man size shoe), made for running that is STAR WARS themed? I could see children sizes in a Star Wars’ shoe, but a MAN’S shoe? What grown, adult man would buy a pair of STAR WARS running shoes?

Exactly!

That is why they were the last pair of shoes, characteristically isolated on the shelf. In my mind, I imagined that they had set there since their release date (November 2019). And I imagined that all the salespeople chuckled among themselves, “What adult man is going to buy them?” Maybe the boss even offered a bonus Starbucks to the salesperson who could sell them. A special incentive to get them off the shelf!

I tried them on. They felt good. Would anyone notice the Star Wars imagery on the side or the “FORCE WILL BE WITH YOU, ALWAYS” on the reverse? Maybe not. No one looks that closely, do they? 60.00? What a great price! “I’LL TAKE EM!”

So, I am the proud owner of a pair of ADIDAS ULTRABOOST (Star Wars edition).

After buying the shoes, I was a little reticent to tell anyone about the Star Wars part.  I was reminded, in my conscience, that I care too much what people think of me. I was reminded that we all want people to see the best parts of us or the stuff we want them to see (ADIDAS ULTRABOOST), but we often don’t want people to look too closely to see our weaknesses, insecurities, and troubles (Star Wars part). That is why our social media and image predominantly portray only a life we WANT people to see, not our real life. We are too insecure to show the real me.

When fake me befriends fake you, we both spend our energies trying to out “ADIDAS ULTRABOOST” each other. When Star Wars me meets Star Wars you, we have authenticity, vulnerability, relational intimacy and connection that provides an environment where there is freedom to be the real me without fear of judgment or rejection. That is liberating and empowering.

So, there you have it, that is #RealMe. How about real you?

“May the force be with you!”