Welcome Means You Can Be Yourself
Shoes are the biggest difference between me and my husband. Not the size, but what we do with them.
Do you want to know the difference between country people and city people? I mean sure. There are lots of obvious difference, but one of the MAIN things I’ve seen marrying into a “country” family and being from a “city” is shoes. That’s right. When we enter someone’s home, my husband will immediately take off his shoes. I, on the other hand, will keep them on.
For my husband, it is a sign of respect to take off your shoes, so you don’t track in mud and water. For me, leaving your shoes on is a sign of respect. Yep. Sorry, for you take-your-shoes-off-people. I usually keep mine on because I am a guest. And guests don’t live here. They are just visiting. If I lived at a house, I would take my shoes off. If I don’t, I leave them on.
It used to bother me and make me feel really uncomfortable when I took my shoes off at my in-laws. Weird. I know. When someone comes to my house, I never ever ask them to take their shoes off! In fact, I don’t even notice
Part of inviting people into my house is to make them feel “welcome” and welcome means being yourself. If you are a shoes-on kind of person, keep them on! If you are a shoes-off kind of person, keep them on! When I have guests to my home, I want to invite them in to relax and be themselves.
The shoes-on / off debate made me think about friendships the same way. I don’t “do” friensdhips the way my husband does friendsips. For one, he is a guy, side note, I HIGHLY recommend this book to help you understand your man. But I also realized I don’t do friendships like other women either.
We all have different levels of friendship and define friendship in different ways. Its ok! Just because somone has 100 friends she keeps close to her heart, doens’t mean I need 100. In fact, I can keep 2-3 friends close and feel completely happy.
Friendship and feeling welcome is about being yourself. No more guilt about how to do friendships. No more guilt about how many friends and at what levels those friends are at. NO more friendship comparison. Being yourself is something foundational with friendships.
Can I suggest you also check out my other article, 5 Steps to Making (and Keeping) Friendships ? 🙂
It’s here!
Welcome to our NEW link-up! I’m so excited to share with you this new opportunity to connect with other bloggers. For now, Welcome Wednesday will post once a week, on Wednesday mornings at 7AM. We have SEVEN co-hosts (myself and six other bloggers!) Please take a moment and follow each blogger on at least ONE social media 🙂
Your Hosts!
Whitney at Polka-Dotty Place / Bloglovin / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
Stefanie at Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest / Facebook
Keri at Keri Lynn Synder / Faceobok / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest
Mauri at The American Patriette / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram
Sarah at Sarah E. Frazer / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest
Lindsay at Lindsay’s Sweet World / Bloglovin / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Twitter
Jessica at Sweet Little Ones / Pinterest / Facebook / Instagram
Rules!
- Only TWO posts please.
- Friendly content only.
- Visit at least TWO other sites.
- Comment on at least ONE other post.
- Follow each host on at least ONE social media.
Feel free to invite ALL of your blogger friends to join us for this all-new link up!
Happy Wednesday!
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I keep my socks on when I go to someone else’s home but remove my shoes and I prefer the same when people visit my home.
It is a cultural thing and shoes carry a lot of germs.As someone who regularly mops my floor I wouldn’t want those germs to enter and make my kids sick .
But the friendship part I agree with you completely. It is important to be yourself
So nice to finally meet another “shoes on” gal….it seems we are a dying breed. If someone asks me to remove my shoes, of course I will. Otherwise, I’ll keep my shoes please. At home, we all wear our shoes:) (One more way, we are sole mates – sorry. Just couldn’t resist!)
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
I’m a shoes on girl too. even when asked to take off shoes at a place where they have nice carpet… it feels weird b/c like you, it’s not my home. but I guess being relaxed enough to do “home” kind of things at someone else’s house is a sign of deeper intimacy. that’s something to think about. thanks for the post.