"Shoe Laces"
When we are children, life feels simple. Every morning before going to school, our parents dress us neatly in our uniforms — clean shirts, polished shoes, and those little laces tied carefully into neat bows. We hardly notice those laces, but our parents always do. They bend down, tie them tight, and remind us, “Walk carefully, beta, don’t trip.” At that age, the act feels small. But in truth, it is one of the first lessons of care, love, and safety that life gives us — silently, without any big words.
In preschool, the playground is our whole world. The ground is rough, the games endless, and our shoes untied more often than tied. Running, jumping, playing tag — it all comes with excitement, and naturally, with open laces. Sometimes we fall, sometimes we laugh it off. But almost every time, someone notices — a teacher, a classmate, or a friend — and says softly, “Your lace is open.” Either they bend down to help us tie it, or stand guard while we do it ourselves. At that time, we never realise that those words — “your lace is open” — mean something much deeper. It means someone cares that we don’t fall.
As we grow older, into middle school and high school, we learn to tie our own laces better. We start running faster, playing harder, and walking more confidently. But still, those moments come — a loose lace, a hurried step, and suddenly, a reminder from a friend. “Hey, tie your lace!” That voice, that concern, carries warmth. It’s not just about a piece of thread coming undone; it’s about someone watching out for us. We might smile, roll our eyes, or say, “Oh, thanks!” and move on. Yet, every reminder builds a quiet bond of friendship and trust.
Then comes college. A new world — full of dreams, ambitions, independence, and friendships that feel like they’ll last forever. Life moves fast here. We rush from class to class, from lectures to canteens, from laughter to late-night talks. The shoes are the same — maybe a bit more stylish now — but still, they have laces. And yes, sometimes they come undone. But when that happens, you still hear that familiar voice, “Hey, your lace is open.” Maybe it’s your best friend, maybe someone you just met, or maybe even someone you secretly like. You smile again, because deep inside, you know — someone noticed. Someone cares enough to say it.
But after college, when the world changes its colours and the race of life begins, the story of those shoe laces takes a different turn. You step into your job, your profession, or your business. The people around you no longer laugh freely like college friends; they speak in formal tones, they measure their words, they maintain their image. Everyone walks fast, eyes on their goals, not on the ground — and definitely not on your laces.
Here, your shoes may still shine, your clothes may still impress, but if your lace opens, nobody says a word. They might see it, they might even notice you struggling, but silence rules. Because now, the world is “professional.” Everyone is busy proving themselves. No one wants to be the one who stops to warn another. They think, “It’s not my concern.” And that’s when you realise how rare it is — that simple voice which once said, “Your lace is open.”
One day, you walk into your office. You are confident, carrying your files and your plans. But your lace is untied. You walk through the corridor, meet several colleagues, greet them with a smile — and not a single person mentions it. You sit at your desk, and suddenly a small voice from behind says, “Sir, your lace is open.” You turn. It’s the new intern, barely a month old in the company. You look down, smile faintly, and say, “Oh, thank you.” As you bend to tie it, something strikes deep inside your heart.
That small act — just two words of concern — brings back every memory: your mother tying your shoes before school, your father reminding you not to trip, your friend shouting across the playground, your classmate smiling as she helped you tie it. You realise that life hasn’t changed the meaning of those words; only people have. The ones who care, still care — no matter the stage of life, no matter the crowd.
Days pass, and you begin to notice something: in this fast, competitive world, there are only a few who genuinely care enough to tell you when your “laces” — literal or symbolic — come undone. Sometimes, it’s about mistakes at work. Sometimes, it’s about a wrong path, a bad habit, or a missed opportunity. Most people remain silent, watching from a distance. But a few, very few, gather the courage to say, “Hey, be careful.” And those are the people worth keeping close.
The truth is, life is full of open laces — things that can trip us if we don’t notice. It might be pride, overconfidence, anger, or simple carelessness. Sometimes we don’t see it; sometimes we ignore it. But when someone points it out, not to embarrass us, but to protect us, that person becomes more valuable than gold. That person deserves our respect, our friendship, and our gratitude.
As years go by, you rise in your career, earn respect, gain success. But you never forget that one intern who told you about your open lace. You see her someday helping others too, with the same care and sincerity. And you realise, this world still has people who notice the small things — and care enough to speak.
From that day on, you make it a point to be like that — to tell others when their “laces” are open, whether it’s in life, work, or behaviour. You learn that caring is never unprofessional, and kindness is never outdated.
Because tying a shoe lace is not just about safety. It is about connection. It is about looking out for one another in a world that often forgets to look.
Moral of the Story:
In life, our “open laces” represent our mistakes, weaknesses, or unnoticed flaws. Many will see them but stay silent. The one who points them out with care is your true friend. Never ignore such a person — for they are the ones who truly wish to see you walk safely, without falling.
