So those sad shoes went to work a party and never came home.

I’ve loved those shoes since college- they were the perfect shade of dark oiled brown. They fit my feet perfectly. I’ve walked millions (OK, plenty) of miles in these shoes. I’ve worn them with pants, skirts, shorts, in all seasons and all weather.

That’s why, when headed to cater a rehearsal dinner last night, they were my go to.

Thing is, even though they looked fine as a grabbed them from the closet, about an hour into the event, I noticed a funny click as I walked across the patio to check on the bartender. I figured it was a rock stuck in the thread. I casually picked up my left foot and much to my surprise the click was in fact the lack of heel.

Damn.

The party hasn’t even technically started yet, and 1/4 of my favorite shoe is missing. The other shoes in my bag? Slightly ratty flip flops. Not good.

Luckily, the event was mostly on the grass, and I could walk just fine. Not actually that noticeable due to the sturdy base under the soles. The night went on without a hitch. Towards the end of the evening, I was picking up more and more pieces of my shoes and throwing them out as I bussed tables. Once we declared the buffet closed and the pick up began, I figured it was dark enough to change into flip flops. At this point, I was pretty sure the next trip out to the tent would result in the soles of my beloved clogs pulling completely free from the still pristine oiled leather uppers. I took a picture (picture or it didn’t happen right?) and into the trash they went.

A few lessons here.

  • Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Just because something looks good on the outside, doesn’t mean it is. This can apply to people or things and the reverse can be true (my slightly ratty flip flops got the job done too). As it relates to the personal care and cosmetics industry- just because it’s in a green bottle with a flower on it doesn’t mean it’s a green or safer product. Read the actual label. In retrospect, if I’d flipped these shoes over and looked at them, I may have seen how thin the soles were. I may have seen through the mask of “ready to wear” and gone with a different pair. I wasn’t looking so I didn’t see it.
  • Sometimes things happen for a reason, or things come into your life at the right time. OK, was this party a great time to have my shoes literally crumble beneath me? No… but in the end, it all worked out. I didn’t crash with the last pan of burgers. I think I picked up all the big chunks off the lawn. In the end, I simply focused on the task at hand, didn’t let it get to me, and the event was a smashing success. This could have shaken my confidence and lead to disaster, but I decided it wasn’t going to be a problem and moved forward.
  • If things no longer serve you- let them go. I have a few more pairs of shoes in my closet that have cracked or broken but I’ve been hanging on to them. It seems wasteful. I still like them. Maybe I could just wear them around the house. I should figure out how to fix them. Now, I truly am an advocate for buying quality and repairing as needed, but there comes a time when you have to let go. This is true of mindsets and ideas as well. Maybe it’s time to reevaluate some of the positions or beliefs that might be holding you back. The College of Confidence is a great resource for me and I invite you to join me. I’m working on my internal dialogue and making it match what I say to others in an amazing, supportive community.
  • A strong foundation is the key. These shoes have good bones- they remained sturdy (though a little clackier) throughout the evening. It’s a reminder to me that on my health, wellness, business, and motherhood journey, building a strong base is going to matter down the road. By eating well, supplementing when needed (click here to see what works for me), doing even just 30 minutes of yoga a day (I’m loving the series Lesley Fightmaster does on you tube!), consistently working my Beautycounter business, and taking a little time each day to really connect with who my daughter is right now and not worry about who she’s going to be in the future, I’m building a base that’s going to be able to withstand the test of time.

Life lessons have a funny way of coming to us at odd moments. Are you present enough to take advantage of them?

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