Big Shoes To Fill

On my recent visit to the Netherlands, I had the chance to explore the iconic windmills at Zaanse Schans. While there, I couldn't resist the classic tourist moment: slipping my feet into a pair of oversized Dutch wooden shoes. 

As I stood there, laughing at how comically large they were, I couldn't help but think about the phrase "big shoes to fill."

We have all heard this phrase at some point in our lives. It is intended to inspire us to rise to the occasion, meet expectations, and live up to a certain standard. But as I have journeyed along my path, I have realized something important - those shoes were never meant for me in the first place. 

For years, I tried to fit into roles and definitions of success that weren't mine. I chased expectations that looked good on paper but felt empty in practice. And I know I am not alone in this. So many of us spend our lives trying to squeeze into shoes that don't fit, convinced that if we try harder, we will finally feel worthy. But the truth? The most successful fulfilled people I know aren't filling anyone else's shoes. They are wearing their own - comfortably, confidently, and unapologetically.

It takes courage to step out of expectations that don't align with who we are. It requires self-awareness to recognize when we are trying to fit into a mold that isn't meant for us. And it takes trust - trust that our own path, our own shoes, are exactly what we need to walk forward with purpose.

So, the next time you feel the pressure to fill big shoes, ask yourself: Are they really meant for you? Or is it time to step into your own and walk your own path?