New Shoes and a Firm Foundation
I recently wore my Keen sandals out completely. Now, granted, they probably should have been replaced a few years ago, but in my mind, they were still functional, so I kept using them. Last October’s trip to Arizona found me super gluing the straps back into the foot bed just so I could make it through the rest of our trip there. However, a few weeks ago, after nearly twelve years, two international trips, and countless miles, I literally walked the sole right off of one of the shoes. It was time to face the reality that I really needed a good pair of new shoes.
Now, I don’t know about you, but if I have to spend a decent sum of money on something, I’d rather it be for something fun or memorable (nice jewelry, books, a vacation, etc.). I’m all about quality versus quantity, but still, when it comes to spending money on good quality necessities, I find it difficult. So my Keen sandals, one sole on and one sole off, sat by my back door as a reminder that at some point, I was going to have to spend some money to replace them.
After much debate, I finally ordered two pair. A lighter weight Keen sandal in a pretty purple camouflage color and a navy blue and white heavier weight sandal/shoe hybrid that is especially great for long walks or hiking. Oh, and they’re both waterproof … a fantastic perk considering all of the recent summer thunderstorms we’ve been having.
Walking around the block the other day with my husband, I commented on how grateful I was for the new shoes. As comfortable as my old pair were, they were definitely worn out and no longer offered the support needed when walking. I had forgotten how nice it is to walk with good, supportive shoes. It was amazing how having a supportive foundation for my feet made the journey of exercising outside so much more enjoyable.
The next shoe upgrade I knew I had to face was my work tennis shoes. At my current job in a healthcare field, I’m on my feet for hours at a time and having good shoes with a lot of cushioning makes the biggest difference. My grandmother, who was a nurse, always said that if you take care of your feet, they’ll take care of you. Due to the shape of my feet (wide with a super high arch), the generic cheap brands of shoes just don’t cut it for me. The last time I had invested in a good pair of sneakers was when I was training for the police academy. That was over eight years ago. Definitely time for a pair of new work shoes. So Friday, I finally took the time to go and get a good quality pair of tennis shoes that were designed with my job function in mind. I can’t wait to see to see how much better my feet will feel at the end of a shift after wearing my new shoes.
The new shoes got me thinking. If such a comparatively small thing as new shoes can make such a huge difference for how my body functions while walking or standing for significant periods of time because they offer the support and foundation needed to aide in proper body mechanics, how much more meaningful are the people and circumstances that laid a firm foundation in my life for me to be the person I am today: life-long friends, my photography instructors, a dear friend who mentored me through the police academy, my field training officers, co-workers, cases I worked, the lives touched on mission trips … just to name a few. It also made me extremely grateful for the way my parents raised me to love the Lord, to be respectful and caring to those I encounter, and to be constantly learning and growing as an individual.
These ponderings also brought with it the conviction that the decisions and choices I make today lay the foundation for future generations. What decisions are you choosing to make today with gratitude that will shape yours and others’ futures?
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