The red shoes of happiness

To me, shoes are one of life’s little luxuries.  They are my guilty pleasure  A new pair of shoes is pretty much guaranteed to make me grin non-stop for at least a week straight.  I’m grinning right now, because of the gorgeous pair of new red sling-backs that are staring back at me from my dressing room.  They’re like an adventure waiting to happen.

I actually wore them last week to a networking event, hosted by a dear friend of mine.  I was a little nervous – after all, there were going to be lots of wonderful, inspiring people to meet and I wanted to make the best impression. I’d decided on my outfit, researched the guest list and printed some new business cards…but the butterflies were at work in my tummy.  And then something magical happened. I put on my new red shoes.

Shoe-power

Suddenly, I felt like a new person.  I was taller and my posture was suddenly straighter.  I felt more in control and my self-belief returned I checked myself over in the mirror – and I smiled.  My new red shoes were perfect.  They instilled a feeling of happiness and personal empowerment – and brought a renewed sense of composure and self-confidence, just when I needed it most.

As I arrived at the event, I felt good – and it showed.  I was able to meet and converse easily with people.  I was open and approachable and my smile came naturally. Of course I can’t attribute all of my enjoyment to those gorgeous red shoes, but they certainly played a significant part in helping me to put my best foot forward (excuse the pun) and allowed me to maximize some fantastic networking opportunities at the event.

Dressing for success

I’ve had a life-long love affair with shoes.  I remember, even as a small child, tottering around in my Mom’s heels, even though they were way too big for me. They were elegant, glamorous and grown-up – a symbol of powerful and beautiful femininity.

Many of those wonderful associations have stayed with me through the years, and now my shoes are a crucial part of my wardrobe.  They’re like secret friends that can help me feel more confident, self-assured – and at times, invincible.  They’re part of my body-armor I suppose; a way of seizing all the wonderful challenges and opportunities that life sends my way.

Can shoes bring happiness?  In my case – definitely YES!  It doesn’t matter if I’m having a bad hair day or I’m feeling a little below par – my shoes have this wonderfully reassuring way of helping me re-connect with my inner happiness.  That’s not to say that I spend all my time running around in 5 inch stilettos! Oh no.  I have different shoes for different moods.  What they all have in common is this wonderful way of reminding me about my own personal power and potential.

So, thank you, little red shoes. You are powerful beyond measure.

May you always be blessed with happiness,

Debbie