You're Just Ready for Growth

Not every opportunity or interest or pursuit is meant to fit forever.

In preparation for my first global wander session of 2023, I bought a pair of expensive boots. Per reviews, they were going to be just the thing for the winter weather and all the walking I rightly expected to do. Space was limited in my carry-on suitcase and backpack, and I had limited myself to just two pairs of footwear. You could say it mattered a lot that I chose carefully.

The black boots arrived, and I crammed my feet in with exceedingly great effort. Then I wore them, trying to convince myself that my feet wouldn’t always hurt so much in said boots. And that it was not that big of a deal to have numb feet while wearing the boots—nothing to worry about!

Yes, those are two pretty big indicators that shoes aren’t fitting well. But I am a size 8 and I’d ordered size 8 and REI didn’t have them in a size 8.5 and I needed time to break in the boots …