The Imelda Marcos Award
Day 145 of Photo Inspirations — The Imelda Marcos Award
#TBT — Imelda Marcos, best known for her 3,000+ pairs of shoes, was the wife of the former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.
So, this photo is ME (check out that hair) — 23 years ago when I was Associate Director of Communications at the University of Manitoba. It was a privilege to work with such great people at such a phenomenal university. This event….was our Department’s Christmas Party where I was presented with The Imelda Marcos “Gold Shoe” Award — because of my passion for shoes. I had plenty of them. If I saw a great pair of shoes on sale (the operative word here is “sale” — I was, and AM a bargain shopper), I would buy them……and THEN find the outfit to go with them. I accepted my award with all humility and gratitude. LOL!
When I saw this photo, I laughed — thinking how far I’ve come since those days. Back then, it was striving for significance and relevance and climbing the career ladder. It was a special season of my life — it was a part of the “making of Donna”. I gained so much knowledge and leadership abilities during those years.
FAST FORWARD — 23 years — to today. A LOT of water under the bridge. Everything in life that I encountered — in business, in relationships, in growing in faith, in valuing everything and every circumstance that got me here — have been a part of God’s Master Plan. My priorities have changed. My responsibilities have changed. What once seemed important to me, has been downgraded. What was unimportant to me……has ranked up. And what is most important to me today…..are those things that money can’t buy. It is those friendships, those intentional moments of making a difference in someone’s life, it is making memories, it is cherishing the moments, it is the opportunity to live care-FREE — not losing sleep on those things that matter so little, and the absolute privilege of living with the mindset of “in the light of eternity”.
Matthew 6:19-21 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth where they can erode away or may be stolen. Store them in heaven where they will never lose their value and are safe from thieves. If your profits are in heaven, your heart will be there too.” Yes, I’m thinking more about heaven than ever before……and taking lots of folks with me. And, shoes aren’t such a big deal anymore — sure won’t be taking those shoes with me when I go! 😉