The power of a good shoe

I have this new job. One that requires me to be on my feet all day. In their shoes.

Their [chosen brand of] shoes.

For the record, I have worn heels for so long that flats hurt. I can lay out a concert stage in 5" platforms and work on the hockey-rink ice in 4" heels. Don't believe me? Ask anybody with AG; they've seen it happen.

I ordered a sneaker-type shoe for work. Wrong. Completely uncomfortable. My feet, legs, hips, and lower back were killing me.

So I ordered new shoes. An ankle boot with a 1.5" heel.

Now, that isn't much of a heel at all. Yet it was enough that I didn't hurt as bad yesterday. Thank heaven!

I've gotten pickier and pickier about what goes on my feet. Since the 'great shoe purge' a few years back, I've been stomping around stores in new shoes before I buy them, making sure they don't pinch my toes or anything.

Over the last few months, I've gotten even pickier. Now they absolutely must have good arch support.

I do not have to settle today.

This applies to all parts of my life.

I don't have to settle for a man that abuses me. I do not have to settle for friends who only keep me around so they can treat me like shit in order to make themselves feel better about themselves. I do jot have to settle for mediocre, in anything.

This doesn't mean that I have started acting all snobby and shit. I've absolutely simplified my life. I've moved into a class A motor coach full time, with a man who treats me with dignity. We live very simply. We are even over the Harley.

We have just removed a lot of the extraneous from our lives. Like all the tchotchkies, knick-knacks, and other dust-catchers that used to litter our homes.

Now, each item in our home has meaning to one (or both) of us. Each item has been thought about, pondered, carefully chosen.

Like our friends.

We surround ourselves with people we actually care about, and who actually care about us.

(Hey, we worked hard to remove drama and chaos from our lives; we guard our peace with care.)

Our lives have become much like my shoe collection. Or maybe my shoe collection has become much like our lives. If it isn't comfortable, if it doesn't serve some purpose, if we aren't better off as a result of having it around, we don't have it around.

I'd love to be all cute-like here, and say that these changes in our lives are happening because I finally felt the pure joy that is Louboutin and Manolo. However, I cannot tell a lie. It is a result of working the steps.

The shoes? Ok, so maybe my pickiness with the shoes is absolutely about having experienced the absolute pure joy that comes from having Louboutins and Manolos on my feet.

Hey, the steps can help me see the light in ALL areas of my life.