Lessons From Old Running Shoes
Running shoes come in all sizes, colors, and designs. They can be reasonably priced or super expensive. There are plenty of different models for every foot shape, arch height, and running gait! That doesn’t peak the interest of all people, and I won’t bore you with more details, but hear me out. After several years and many, many pairs of shoes, I have begun to draw some parallels between my experiences of walking and running and struggles that many of us experience in our daily lives. I realized that maybe there is more to be gleaned from old shoes than style, comfort, or a place on the shoe rack!
- Loosen the laces. Your shoes will stay on.
Historically, I’ve been the type to tie my shoes a little too tight. It just felt right at the time, and gave me the security that they weren’t going to slip around while I ran or that they wouldn’t fall off entirely! But when the laces are too tight, it can actually do some damage: sore feet and decreased circulation are just two examples! I think we can end up doing the same thing to ourselves in our daily lives. When we grasp desperately for control–intentionally or not–we squeeze ourselves too tightly and apply an unhealthy amount of pressure to our mental health. Unfortunately, the repercussions of this are more severe than tying our shoes a little too tight. We may experience burnout, difficulty regulating our emotions, or a fatigue that we just can’t quite curb.The truth is that we can loosen our grip and temper our desire for control. We will be okay. And even when circumstances feel outside of our control, we can ground ourselves, take a deep breath, and move toward radical acceptance.
- No pain, no gain.
Anyone who has ever broken in a new pair of shoes knows that it can be a bit uncomfortable to say the least. And running, while enjoyable in some ways, also forces one into a place of sustained discomfort. While some pain is indicative that something is wrong and should not be ignored (such as an injury), some amount of it just comes with the territory of the discipline. In the same way, choosing what is best for us or advocating for our needs can feel a bit uncomfortable and may even come with some pain and sacrifice. However, the discipline of assertiveness can produce in us a healthy sense of empowerment and appropriate self-confidence. No pain, no gain does not mean that you should continue to subject yourself to toxicity or abuse, but rather means that integrating any new, healthy behavior may be uncomfortable and painful at first, and knowing at the same time that the discipline of it brings growth and eventual joy.
- Think of the many, many miles!
When it is time to retire a pair of running shoes, it is not because they smell bad–although they most certainly do! It’s because they have been worn down by the miles put on them over time. For me, there is a small amount of sorrow that comes with throwing out a pair of old shoes, because they have literally carried me through so much. A bit sappy and sentimental, I know. But the important takeaway here is that the stories to be told from the miles run and the growth that happened because of them are invaluable. And in our lives, when we move on from one season to the next, we too can look back to see the progress made in the midst of the monotony, the tedious repetition, and the challenges. Reflect on the journey that you’ve had, and use it to propel you toward what is next. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions come up when you reflect on the miles that you have traveled (literally or figuratively), and aim to meet these emotions without judgment so that you can continue moving forward.
Loosen your grip on situations that are not yours to control, allow yourself to feel the discomfort of the growth that you are pursuing, and reflect on the seasons of life that are behind you so that they can continue to inform and motivate you. Every new season (or pair of shoes) is an opportunity to refocus and improve. Every step has brought you to where you are today, and will continue to carry you forward if you allow it to! Trust the process, and find the courage to take the next best step.
