I’m about to show you my tennis shoes. But first, let me tell you about these shoes. I’ve had them for three years. Yes, I said three. I wear flats to work in and these shoes are pretty much only worn around the house and to do the grocery shopping. I paid $29.99 for them and, although they aren’t the latest style or anything, they aren’t completely unfortunate looking. I can’t promise I haven’t been patting myself on the back for how frugal I am for hanging onto them for so long. You know, the whole “use it up and wear it out” thing.
But then this started happening:
The plastic in the heel started wearing through, and yet, I still wore them. They weren’t digging into my skin, so I figured they were still good. Isn’t that hideous?
A couple of weeks ago I ordered E.B. a new pair of tennis shoes and figured I would poke around the website and check out the Fila brand for women. I used to be a die-hard Fila tennis shoe freak. They were so comfortable and stylish back in the day. However, a few years after I got married, it seemed like their designs changed drastically and they were just flat out ugly. It made me sad, so I switched to New Balance.
Well, lo and behold, Fila has finally impressed me again, and now I’m the proud new owner of these:
Can I just tell you how amazing my new shoes feel? I don’t know why I waited so long.
This shoe immediately relieved so much joint pressure in my hips and knees that my legs almost felt like Jell-O because suddenly they were so cushioned. My back feels so much better. I feel like a brand new woman. Almost. And maybe any old brand of tennis shoe would have done this, but all of this rambling and gushing over new shoes is just to say that I can finally understand why people invest in good shoes, and often. When I was younger (and free from Rheumatoid Arthritis and possibly Lupus), it was all about style. Now, it’s all about comfort. I will never try to wear another pair of tennis shoes to the ground again. I’m also checking out new dress shoes for work. Standing up on flats all day is not helping matters, either.
Do you have a comfortable pair of shoes you just love? Tell me about them!
***I purchased these shoes myself and I am not being compensated in any way to write about them. Just showing off my new kicks, that’s all, and shouting from the rooftops that I feel SO much better.
Everyone needs a good pair of comfortable shoes, I’ve always had a pair and as soon as they begin to show signs of wear I buy another. Our feet go through so much and so it’s important to look after them or the effects (on things like your posture, knees and ankles) will be felt in the long-term. Spend the extra money, it’s important to look after yourself.
I’m terrible about new tennis shoes even for working out. I didn’t know you had RA. You deserve good shoes!!
You might be inspiring me because I have been hanging on to the same pair of aerobics shoes for way, way, way too long. They’re starting to hurt but they still look so new that I can’t let them go. But I need to. Clearly.
You never know how bad it was til you have it good!
Amen! And now I know…lol!