there was an old woman who lived in a shoe meaning

 

This story is about a piece of paper that I found and how it changed my life.

The piece of paper's history is unknown, but the paper on shoes which it was written is ancient. Written in an unknown language with an undecipherable alphabet, this one lone sheet was folded into four quarters. 

Image source: https://www.converse.com/

When I unfolded it, I realized there was not much to see at first glance- just a few sentences written in different places on the paper. The words were faded and hard to read; even when held up to the light they still looked jumbled and incomprehensible.

I didn't know what to do, so I kept it in my pocket from that day on.

Image source: https://www.amazon.in/

Years went by and I was still carrying the piece of paper with me. I began to notice that the words did not look faded anymore, but instead looked like they had brightened and stabilized. 

Image source: https://www.pinterest.com/

And then, over the course of time, the sheet of paper became a beautiful piece of art. Each time I looked at it, I felt peace wash over me as if a great deal of weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Image source: https://www.istockphoto.com/

It was then that the meaning behind the words began to dawn on me. The first lines said: "there is no need for you to ever die. you will never age; you will never learn and you will never die...

Image source: https://www.flipkart.com/

" I felt a great sense of happiness and relief when I saw this. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders and that I could finally live my life freely. 

Image source: https://www.newbalance.com/

In fact, I did not feel the need to even worry about death anymore, because there was nothing to worry about- either for myself or for anyone else.

Image source: https://www.dsw.com/

These thoughts helped me to silence all other worries and anxieties that plagued me before. With all these worries gone, I also became more relaxed and at peace with myself. 

Image source: https://www.macys.com/

At some point, as time passed, I began to think of others instead of just myself since I cared so much now about others as well. I thought, "why should there be so much focus on myself when I can help others instead?"

Image source: https://www.overstock.com/

It was a noble idea; it felt good to think of others, too. But even though I had helped many people, my own life still did not feel complete. I had found a purpose, but my life was still incomplete, and it felt lonely.

Image source: https://www.vans.com/

One day in the park where I would usually go to stroll around in the afternoons, I was sitting alone and reading my piece of paper. 

Image source: https://www.converse.com/

Suddenly the sheet lit up with golden lines that reached all around the sheet; it looked like fireflies dancing on the sheet. It looked as though the piece of paper was on fire!

Image source: https://shoeguidepro.com/

I panicked and dropped it. I tried to pick it up, but my hands passed through the piece of paper, as if there was nothing there. 

Image source: https://www.adidas.co.in/

At that moment I felt an enormous sense of loneliness. There I was, standing all by myself in the park with not a soul in sight, and there was no one around to comfort me during that time of need. 

Image source: https://www.nike.com/

My mind raced and tried to think of something that could make the loneliness go away. After a moment or so, I closed my eyes and imagined what it would feel like if I had another person with me...

When I opened my eyes again, a young boy was standing next to me.

 Image source: https://shop4reebok.com/