The Circle of (Shoe) Life

This past Wednesday I did a very hard thing: I threw out my most very favorite shoes. They were in such terrible condition that I actually hadn't worn them in a while, and I'll admit that part of the reason I threw them out was I was afraid I might actually put them on my feet again. These shoes and I had a lot of good times. They stomped around with me to work, to hang out with friends, probably even out of state. I took a few pictures before I threw them in the trash, to document how well I'd loved them to death:







I last time I wrote about my favorite shoes and how I was destroying them was in a post in 2007! It has taken me that long to get rid of them! What changed? Well, first off they got worse, and secondly wear and tear was now clearly showing in the toes of the shoes rather than just on the heels. So when I wore them the flaws would be right there looking up at me when I looked down.

However, it's not all sad. My grief was slightly assuaged by the arrival of new shoes! They're not a replacement per se, because they're a) sneakers, b) more casual, and c) not the same color scheme, but they're fun and eco friendly! They're Simple Shoes and so are made out of sustainable and recycled materials (including silk and former car tires). I've never bought any shoes from Simple Shoes before so it was a bit of a risk. Luckily it turned out well: the shoes fit, they have fantastic cushioning and arch support, and they're just as polka-dotty as I'd hoped they'd be. Maybe they will become my new favorite shoes, and one day be destroyed as well.