I remember the time when someone told me that I was buying way too many boots and heels . . . and that if I only spent the same amount of energy on my spiritual life as I did on buying new shoes, I would be a much happier person. Yep. Someone told me this as I was going through my urban coffee days — as a top-notch barista in a singularly-popular coffee shop, sporting a green apron and pushing beverages to the Needy Uncaffeinated .
This good-advice person’s name was Ernest, and I took his advice as Ernest being Earnest. At the time, I appreciated Ernest’s insights. After all, it isn’t often that someone tells you at the hand-off bar that you could use a whole lot more spirituality in your soul. It’s the sort of thing that makes you stand up a little straighter and take notice of your foot apparel for that particular day. And while Ernest certainly hit one of the nails on the head, there were yet a whole lot more nails dotting the board a’waiting some serious banging. It was a time of life when a whole lot of is were waiting to be dotted and a lot of ts were hoping to be crossed . . . in other words, I was experiencing Life just like everyone else — what with it being so uncertain and all. The best word for that time of my life could be summed up as: Major Transition. and we all know that Periods of Transition can use a Goodly Dose of Imminent Spirituality.
Transition. Not a bad thing, transition. I look back now, what with hindsight being so great and all, and connect the Scattered Dots that have led me to today . . . with Now being pretty darned great in comparison to Then. Life has its moments and its cycles. And I am the first to say that I am always glad when I am out of my Frail-Souled, Boot-Buying Paradigm. However . . . please, let there be a however in this story’s moral.
Here’s the However: Ernest’s Sage Words aside, there is nothing wrong with feeling a moment of joy when buying and wearing a super-cute pair of shoes or boots. This little tale is in no way meant to serve as a warning to those of you who have a passion for buying Boots, Heels, or Sandals. After all, the purchase of such items need not mean that your Soul is experiencing a Dearth of Integrity. It just means that you have Fun wearing your boots. Simple. I have spent many a happy hour, fighting off the Challenges of Transition as I danced my boot heels into oblivion on the dance floor.
I think of Ernest on occasion — especially when I am looking in my Shoe Closet. He was a kind soul who meant extremely well and who carried with him an Eye for Spirituality — and its Lack Therein. He was a good person who could see Life Conflict written on me and who believed that putting those Boot Dollars into a 401K would have served me in a much better way. Maybe Ernest was right. I don’t know, but I do think that his heart was in the right place by speaking up and putting it out there.
Life is a lively event. Wear your boots with fun in your heart, drink coffee, and get to it.
What’s stopping you? xox Boots
As for the boots below . . . I want!
Ariat Women’s Unbridled Roper Western Cowboy Boot
http://amzn.to/290EaIY
Ariat Women’s Showbaby Western Boot
http://amzn.to/292NZYV
Ariat Women’s Fatbaby Heritage Vivid Western Cowboy Boot
http://amzn.to/28WwNn8
What a strange judgment! It begs me to ask what Ernest was wearing on HIS feet on that particular day? And I wonder if HIS spirituality was diminished when be bought whatever he was wearing. (I’m chuckling now.) Seems to me you were celebrating Life by investing in your shoe closet. And also nonverbally acclaiming Abundance! And expressing Appreciation! And trusting the Universe would provide. And it did. And it does. And it will. Buy the boots.
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