Eyes Forward!

Eyes forward young lady!

Sounds like a reprimand. Something I probably heard from a matriarchal teacher because I was looking out the window instead of learning about transitive verbs.  Eyes forward though, was one of the instructions that came with my new pair of walking shoes.

Okay, so first off I have to deal with the fact that my shoes came with an instruction manual. The instruction manual was accompanied by an instructional DVD, I am guessing for those of us who prefer not to read?  I wore the shoes for three days before I broke down and read the instructions.  My curiousity finally got the better of me.  Now that I have read the manual, I can't decide if I am embarrassed or impressed.  I actually learned something about how to how to walk in my new shoes after reading the manual.

The instructions told me I needed to keep my eyes up and looking directly out in front of me while walking.  This would help the construction of the shoe tone my core, and improve my posture.  My next adventure in my shoes was a trip to the grocery store; so I gave it a try. Eyes forward walking made reading my grocery list a little challenging, so I allowed downward glances.  I decided holding the piece of paper out in front of my face as I walked down the aisle had the potential for disaster written all over it. 

Interestingly, the shoe manufacturers were right. Eyes forward dramatically improved my posture.
I noticed something else too.  I noticed how many women were walking with their eyes slightly lowered.  Perhaps the grocery store was just like that.  The next time out in my new shoes, I watched again.  Same results. 

I started wondering.  What message do I communicate with my eyes turned downward?  I am not looking out at my world so much as casting furtive glances.  Is it an effort to be invisible?  Don't see me, don't judge me, don't threaten me? Is it an effort to avoid what I do not want to see?  My life, my present, my past, my future?  I noticed the men too.  Their gazes tended to be more 'eyes forward'.

If my gaze is forward I say to myself and to others...I am here.  I see and I am seen.  Although I have my moments of self-doubt, I am not usually described as lacking in confidence. I am more likely to be described as lacking in humility rather than lacking in self-esteem.  Funny thing though....wearing my instructions-required shoes with my 'eyes forward'....I felt stronger.

So I thought I would pass this along.  Women of the Marine Kore, Eyes Forward!  This is not matriarchal correction.  Eyes forward is coaching for strength.  When one woman feels stronger, she empowers her sisters.

Be Strong, Marine Kore Strong;
T.