You must think I am joking.
I am not.
If you thought that “shining their shoes” was code for something else, it’s not.
Yes, shining shoes was a thing of the past AND it still is a thing in this day and age.
Particularly when you are someone like me, who is tall and has
Everything that can be ‘wrong’ with my feet – is. wrong. with. my feet.
So, when you find that pair of shoes (and particularly now that we are going into winter, a pair of boots) — one that you can put on your feet, that fit without immediately hurting, ones that you can comfortably walk in without having to have them adjusted somehow or feel like need a month to break them in at home before you take them out in public without having some crooked smile on your face–
When you find THAT pair – You pay any price (well, almost any price) and you take. care of. those shoes.
You take care of those boots like they are your babies.
Mark my words.
And my husband knows this.
Why would I do that?
Because there just aren’t as many options for sizes 10 and up. You don’t get to be as picky as some.
If you are a woman (or you are married to one) who is a size 7 or 8 or 9, you might have absolutely NO idea what I am talking about.
I also know this might have a little to do with my European upbringing, and the fact that you don’t have as much space to your name in a condo as you do in a house. Also, the choices were limited when I was growing up.
And partly, we adhered to the idea that not everything that for some reason isn’t working, you immediately replace. You repair it instead. I’m likely also giving away how old I really am. [I guess I am ok with that.]
And I am also aware of the risk of everyone now first staring at my feet/shoes first when they see me next – (to check out how big they really are :0) – and I guess I am ok with that, too.
Anyway – I get distracted.
Do this today. Don’t delay until tomorrow.
Whether they are in the same situation I am or not – SHINE THEIR SHOES.
Have them leave for the day feeling like a million bucks.
Because it always does the trick.
[Now, if you KNOW that shoes are definitely NOT their thing – Do something like this with another item of theirs that IS. Something that IS important to them.]
Cause you know what it says to your spouse?
It says I care about you.
I care what your feet are in all day.
And you only have two and they came with no replacements.
So I am willing and happy to put forth some effort to make you feel good.
To make you look good.
Because I don’t need to get another college degree to be able to accomplish that.
Doing things for your spouse offers the the kind of ROI that little else does.
PS: Are you gonna do it? Make it be your pre-Christmas gift to them.
