Let's Talk About Sole(s)

In the past couple of days, I've been considering bold steps I can take in the quest for simplicity. One of the most obvious areas for quick and dramatic change is... (insert some sort of ominous, suspense-building music here)...the closet. The closet is a frightening area so full of piles, hangers, stacks, shoes, etc. that it would be nothing but insanity to try to tackle it in one step, one day or one blog post. So, not feeling terribly creative, I just addressed the first thing I came to...my shoes. I have shoes for every conceivable situation that I may ever encounter in this life and, perhaps, several others. Yes, I am prepared to properly equip my feet to hike snow-covered trails, attend formal balls, and go for a sensible walk. But, why? Why do I need thirty pairs of shoes? Simple answer? I don't. Time to take steps.

The easiest bit was getting rid of the shoes that I don't even like. Why do I even have shoes I don't like? That's nonsense. Into the Goodwill stack they went. Then I tackled the shoes I like, but haven't worn in recent memory. Next, the shoes that have been worn so much that they're falling apart (those went in the trash, not the Goodwill stack). Now things get difficult. I have to start answering tough questions about my need for six pairs of ballet flats and the necessity of different shoes for different walking speeds (walking, running, hiking...). After giving serious thought to the wardrobe I'm aiming for and the activities I actually participate in, I've cut down to eight pairs. Okay, maybe ten...I'm honestly not sure if I should count my galoshes and slippers.

I'm not content with having eight (or, perhaps, ten) pairs of shoes. It still seems excessive. Particularly when I think about my husband's shoe wardrobe. His shoe number? Four. And not once have I heard him complain about not having the right shoes for his outfit. So, tomorrow I'm going to take some deep, calming breaths and look at the situation again. I'll let you know how it goes. ;)