To Our Favorite Shoes
They support us through the good, the bad, and the downright messy. This love letter goes out to our favorite pair of shoes. God bless their soles.
Maybe you connected online. You saw the photo and felt a spark of interest. For some, it was quick — a connection started in a moment of spontaneity that turned into something more. For others like myself, it took some time — months of contemplation and self analyzing (were you really ready for that level of commitment?). But after some thought, picturing your future together, and a little bit of online stalking, you took a chance and never looked back.
Some of you were set up by a trusted friend. After enough “I just think you would look really good together!” comments (be it one or ten, depending on the friend), you finally relented and it turns out your friend was absolutely right!
Or perhaps you met each other the old fashion way: the classic meet cute at the mall. It might not have been love at first sight, but you opened yourself up to the possibility and found yourself head over heels, literally.
Obviously I am talking about shoes.
Cinderella might have given us unrealistic standards in the world of dating and romance, but to her credit I did learn two important things as a child: 1.) the right makeover can stop a room and 2.) the right shoes are magical.
Whether or not footwear fills the majority of your closet space (or daydreams), we all have that one beloved go-to pair. Whatever your preferred style or brand, this is the pair of shoes you grab for any and every occasion. Be it the laid back brunches, those late night snack (and wine) runs, the dates you are not sure of, and any and all coffee shop hangs. You can dress them up and dress them down because honestly, they just go with any and everything!
For me, it is my Adidas Superstars. These darlings have carried my feet away from bad dates and even worse pick up lines. On more than one occasion, they gave me the boost of confidence I needed to stand a little straighter and once, even go for that kiss. I have worn these shoes to work events, parties, church, date nights, even a wedding where “jeans only” was the dress-code (a whole unfortunate topic and story for another time).
Your favorite pair of shoes might not be “perfect” but they are perfect for you, and at the end of the day, that is all that matters. Like it or not, this is the pair that has seen you at your worst, your best, and all the mini grocery-store breakdowns in between. They have never once judged you for the amount of times you stopped at Target “just to walk around” or those seasons you answered those late night “you up?” texts. On the good days and the bad ones, this pair will always have you feeling a little bit more like yourself. So go ahead, put one foot in front of the other, because no matter where you are in life, you can trust your favorite pair to carry you to and through all of life’s random, bizarre adventures.
Caeli Faisst
Caeli (chaylee) is a freelance writer & poet casually chilling in the city of Charlotte. Her work has appeared in Broccoli Magazine, YouVersion, & Carolina Muse to name a few. When she is not writing, one can find Caeli enjoying the outdoor seating of local coffee shops, perusing through web comics, or museum hopping with friends.
