Richard Levitt: No Shoes, No Problem

Richard Levitt steps in to reflecting on cultural conventions, one shoe at a time.

We don’t wear shoes in the house. It’s not a cultural or family tradition. We just like it better that way.

And of course, it’s not just us. If you’ve ever taken a yoga or martial arts class, had a formal Japanese meal, been to a mosque, or visited the homes of Asian, Middle Eastern or North African friends, you know the first thing you do is remove your shoes.

Yet, we noticed this awkward moment in our entryway … as if guests were thinking, “How can I get out of this?”

It was a thing. And we want to be cordial hosts. So first, we made parties an exception — that huge stack of shoes did get a little silly. Then, the entire downstairs. We don’t love it, but we adapt.

Then just this week, we had visitors from Hong Kong. When they came in — after a long, exhausting day of travel — they all left their shoes by the door. Even their 7-year-old daughter kicked off her tiny cartoon character sneakers without a second thought.

We noticed it, and my wife and I both grinned. Their conventions matched our own — and honestly, it felt pretty good. But it also made me wonder how many cultural conventions I ignore … or don’t bother to understand. Sometimes it seems we Americans can be kind of myopic. But we might be much better off seeing things more broadly.

It’s well documented that exposure to different cultures builds resilience and adaptability. It helps us develop problem-solving skills and cognitive flexibility. And it makes us more capable of dealing with challenges and uncertainties. The Washington Post writes, “Successful navigation of diversity requires extra thought and more brain power. The more diverse the location, the more brain power required by the people who live there.”

So, taking the time to observe — and understand — other cultures, practices and traditions makes us more adaptable, smarter and better citizens. Like a shoe that could be on the other foot. With a Perspective, I’m Richard Levitt.

Richard Levitt is a copywriter and teaches yoga, martial arts and swimming. He also coaches the Northern California Special Olympics swim team.