Scuffed, Scraped, and Smelly: Our Shoes and the Story They Tell

Filled with holes, caked with clay and worn down to the heels, my pair of Nike's have traveled to some exotic places. If they weren't inadament objects, you could sit around the campfire and listen to them tell stories of where they've been and what they've experienced.

When you get a new pair of shoes, you kind of feel like you have a new baby in the family. They are brand new, haven't experienced much in the world and you can wait to show them what the world has to offer. You think of all the special experiences that you are going to have together. This is how i felt when i got these special Nike's over 8 years ago and now looking back i start to realize just how many places these shoes have taken me.

I began to think about this special pair of shoes as i was beginning to put them on to go mow my lawn. These shoes have been on countless adventures and have experienced the true "sole" of so many countries. With these shoes, I have been able to go so many places. As I pondered about the stories these shoes could tell, once forgotten experiences began to flood into my brain. Here is a little taste of what unfolded as my feet began to slip into these familiar shoes these.

Just to name a few experiences, these shoes have:

1. Played basketball, football, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, golf, and soccer on just about every surface, field, and course that is on this planet.
2. Has hiked mile upon mile of the Swiss alps, the Rocky Mountains, the cobblestone streets of Europe and chunks of the St. James Way.
3. Kicked a hacky sack on the edge of the Grand Canyon, on platforms of various European rail stations, and terminals of countless airports.
4. They have experienced every kind of public restroom from the most luxurious self cleaning thrones to the most rank gas station outhouses known to man.
5. Tromped through foot upon foot of snow and frozen sidewalks in Utah.
6. Strutted the corridors and climbed the stone clad steps of the medieval cathedrals and castles of Europe.
7. Melted the souls walking miles and miles of the Phoenix Arizona valley.
8. Squashed quarter sized fire ants and flattened cockroaches the size of Pez dispensers.
9. Flown through the air of many theme park roller coasters and rides.
10. Dragged me through a number of 5k races.

Shoes can tell alot about people. Where they've been, what they've experienced, and how they got to where they are today. In a way, our shoes can be our personal journal. They can bring back memories and give us a sense of place. 

The next time you open your closet or look in your shoe basket, I challenge you to pick a pair, take a minute as you put them on and realize where these shoes have been and where they have taken you. Pretty soon you will find it hard the next time you have to throw away a pair.