As I stood, mesmerized in front of the Jimmy Choo shoes, time stood still….
I finally looked around, shaking myself from the hypnotic call of lovely things, and my husband had a bewildered look on his face. In his hand was a shoe with the price tag dangling from it. He was a victim of “sticker shock” and may have feared that I had been caught in the siren call of lavish footwear. Jimmy Choo shoes are pricey. This was news to him, poor guy.

The alluring display was at our local “Fancy Mall” where Tesla, Burberry, and Tiffany’s share space with other high end stores. I was taking a rare walk through Nordstom when the shiny, colorful high heels caught my eye and stopped me.

There was a time when I was well acquainted with those sorts of designer shoes, I wore them, and I had even developed a near athletic level of proficiency such that I could run in high heels through gravel, no prob. It was the equivalent, in my day, of a gold medal winning triple lutz in figure skating. Yes, I had shoe skills. We all have gifts and abilities, and mine were wearing shoes.

At one time I knew the world of labels like Chanel (two C’s), Louboutin (red soles), Vuitton (LV), and so on. It was a place that I inhabited for a relatively brief time in my life, but having come out of a strictly K-Mart blue light special and G.C. Murphy’s bargain basement context I found that my ticket to an upscale atmosphere was somehow healing, like a super sparkly and expensive band-aid.

I worked hard, and it gave me the opportunity to explore various and ridiculous things in order to feel as though I was permitted to be more than where I came from. I have some great memories along with a few regrets about my journey into fashion, but I learned from it all.

When the kids in my family were young I insisted on taking them, at least once, to the Opera, a ballet, a Broadway show, a dress up special event, and a nice restaurant. It wasn’t because I particularly wanted them to love any of it, that is up to them and their tastes. However, I wanted them to know, for sure, that they could get through the doors to those elegant venues, and they belonged wherever they wanted to be. They belonged.

So now, let me be clear about what I want to say to you: any and every good thing is for you. You are permitted and worthy of the good things in life, enjoyment, meaningful missions, love and respect…every good thing.

If you, (like many of us) grew up questioning whether or not “people like us” could enjoy culture, education, travel, true love, or an abundant and blessed life, then let me give you the holy truth: you are worth it, absolutely, no doubt. If you believe and accept this, it will save you a whole lot of time and heartache, along with missteps and detours in life if you are tempted to believe you are not enough.

Back at the mall, I didn’t try on the Jimmy Choos, or the Valentinos, or the Manolo Blahniks, because those choices don’t suit me at this point; although I still like a lovely shoe. I have enough of everything.

At this point, my greatest joys have become giving and sharing. It is the pinnacle of joy, and I think I’ve always known that.

The point is that my choices are no longer bound to insecurity about my sense of worth or if the world values me or not, and I don’t have to prove anything to myself anymore. I fought that battle already. Oh, I have other battles to face, for sure, but life is a challenge, you know that.

But in this complex world, let me suggest that you allow yourself to experience the things you enjoy. Next time you pass the luxury shoes, try them on if you get the urge, just to see how it feels. Much like Cinderella, (or Cinderfella?) I’ll bet they fit just fine even if you don’t take them home.

You don’t have to choose those items, you don’t have to have high priced stuff just for the status. The point is that you are worth it all just the same. You are worth it, and you can’t put a label on that!