Like the gazillions of other people currently checking their feeds, including you!), I love Instagram. What’s not to love? It connects me to people I care about, that interest me, and shows me some of the beautiful (or in some cases jarring or stark) things that are happening in their world, and therefore in the world around me. But over the last few months I have gone from Instagram user to Instafanatic about a particular group of people (and their images) that are an example of this social media platform at its most fascinating. I was introduced to a particular Instagram community that has quickly sucked me in and has me thinking more purposefully about what I am doing with my life and the places that are shaping my experience here on Earth.
And it’s about feet.
The #IHaveThisThingWithFloors community curates beautiful photos of feet on some of the most unique floors around the world. The handle was first introduced to me by my Instagram Guru @Embratora. And from the first moment I understood that re-grams from around the world were a daily part of the feed, I jumped in with both feet. Literally.
I have done more than just like and follow the photos that @IHaveThisThingWithFloors shares. I have found myself in some of the most beautiful and unique places around the world (for job and family) that I think merit a moment of reflection. I may not have the most gorgeous feet or stylish shoes in the world (alas, it appears that the majority of the shoes that @IHaveThisThingWithFloors chooses to use are of fashion-forward-female-feet), but my feet are often in some interesting places.
By the end of 2015, I had clicked pics of my feet on some beautifully crafted floors in places as diverse as Qatar, Korea, the U.S. and Italy. And as the list of pictures grew, I realized there was a key tie-in with both my family and my faith.
One day late last fall I walked into my son’s middle school after a doctor’s appointment. This is not usually a big moment, but my son reminded me that walking through the threshold of his school was something with an important tie to history. Indeed, on February 2, 1959, his school was the first school in Virginia to integrate students after a landmark Supreme Court decision. And on that important day, four black children were escorted into the doors of the school and a new era began. My wife and I re-count this story with pride as often as we can to each of our kids when we have occasion to be at the school. And on this particular day, my son Adam made the important connection: “Dad, why don’t you take a picture of OUR feet. This floor isn’t as pretty as some of those other ones you gram, but it is important.” Wow. He was right. And from that point on, I started thinking more carefully not just about the beautiful floors I have walked on, but the important ones. The meaningful ones. The humble and sacred ones. (Read more about the integration of students at Arlington’s Stratford School here).
In my faith there is a beloved line of scripture that reads, “Stand in Holy Places” (D&C 87:8) Among many things, it is a reminder that we should spend time and be in locations where we can be doing things that are uplifting, or helping to lift up others. It is a reminder that if things are truly important to us, we will spend time there. For me, that is my home. For me, that is near my friends and loved ones. It is in places of worship and service. For many, I know these places are spots in nature or places with sentimental significance.
So this year, an Instagram handle has enhanced meaning for me. I will continue to follow it and wonder at the mosaics, the interesting tiles, the woodwork, the beautiful spots and much more. But I will also pay more attention to where my feet are planted this year. What are the doors I am walking through and where are the locations where I can be of service to others.
Is it possible that an Instagram account is reminding me to put my best foot forward? Absolutely.
