Slipping into slippers ... at work

Putting your feet up at work

There’s something so comforting about slipping into a pair of slippers – down-time, home-time, relaxation, no-fuss, no-bother, no-worry about what we look like, cup of tea, feet-up, couch-time, fire-side comforts …

Not so when we are at work.

We simply don’t associate the comfort of our slippers with the heady, fast-paced world of work, do we?

How liberating then to swop our stilettoes for slippers for a day as part of the annual Reach for a Dream Slipper Day fundraising campaign at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) today, 1 August.

As one of NMMU’s values is Ubuntu, which recognises our compassion for others, we are encouraged to support such initiatives.

And so our department (Marketing and Corporate Relations), bought our R10 stickers to help this fabulous charity organisation top last year’s figure of R2.3m for funds raised and to enjoy the luxury of padded pantoffels in the office for a day.

Slowing the pace with slippers ...

What a small price to pay for the privilege of stepping into down-time, home-time, relaxation etc., a good few hours before official slipper-time begins at the weekend.

How liberating to sit behind a desk wearing my faithful foot servants and then schlep down the passage to put the kettle on for an accompanying cuppa. (Slippers imply a slowing of pace, hence we schlep as oppose to walk). And how gratifying to know that the out-of-kilter comfort experienced today will give youngsters with terminal illnesses the opportunity to experience something special to them …

Of course, it’s all a little easier when your colleagues are cosseted in their slippers too. Brave is the lecturer who steps boldly into a lecture hall wearing his Superman slippers …

Mind you, he or she will be in good company, not just today, but any day for it is not unknown for members of Generation Y (our students) to pop into a shop, visit friends or even casually trawl the malls in their favourite footwear – slippers. (Not to mention pyjamas pants …)

For slippers are no longer the sole preserve of grandmothers … they’ve come out of the closet (literally and figuratively) in recent years as witnessed by the support the annual Slipper Day charity drive receives.

And they’re also no longer “Grannified”, dull affairs … They’re of every colour for every taste, but comfort remains the core.

It was something that Derek “the slipper man” appreciated. According to reports, he wore his faithful footwear for 23 consecutive years … at home and at work, in fact everywhere …

Nah, evenings, weekends and once a year at work is time enough for me and my slippers! And you?

Slipper talk at NMMU - living our value of ubuntu.