The saying goes, “Put your best foot forward.” I have questions.

First of all, why feet? Why not hands? Or eyes or ears? We have a lot of body parts that come in twos. Would any of those work just as well?

Secondly, do I have a worst foot? Or an ugly foot? What is wrong with the one foot that makes the other one so much better? They are mirror images of each other, but other than that, I do not notice a difference.

Finally, why forward? Couldn’t this have said pick it up or kick with it? Put your best foot in, put your best foot out, put your best foot in and shake it all about?

What strikes me about the saying is that there must only be two options. Anything else that is not my best is, well, simply not my best. That hurts.

I believe that the saying if referring to or is most often used in times when we are doing something that others will see. In full encouragement, a person will utter this phrase hoping to have someone work carefully and produce their best result. More than that, don’t we want to feel that we did all we could to get the best result?

Perhaps the foot is a symbol; if we are heading in a direction that we should lead with our best efforts, skills, time, and focus.

Here is a thought; how do we continue with our best foot? Makes me believe that I have to hop to get anywhere.

Hop along and have a Happy Friday.