New Shoes, New Life

My new Converse Jack Purcell shoes

I recently bought a new pair of shoes but they are more than just shoes, they represent a new way of thinking, a challenge... to be fun again.

A couple of months back, a good friend of mine and I were talking about the things we used to do that we now miss, things that we stopped doing because we thought we're "too old"; and we started sighing a lot, looking whistful. "What happened to us? We used to be fun?" I said and she agreed. I said, "We have to be fun again," but I never really tried. 

I guess when you're caught in the daily demands of being an adult, you lose sight of doing the things that are fun, that make you smile, that make you thankful to be alive, feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, the cool breeze blowing your hair... There are quite a number of things I gave up also because I think I'm too old for those, like owning a pair of Chuck Taylors. I've been thinking of buying one for years but always, I am stopped by the thought that I should now be dressing my age, not like I used to when I was in my 20s. 

I was scared of looking ridiculous. It's funny how we stop ourselves from doing things that are fun because of that fear of looking ridiculous. I remember a friend telling me once that the reason why kids are happy is because they don't know the meaning of ridiculous. 

And, it's also funny how we put limits on what we could do because we think we are "too old". There are reasonable limits I suppose but most of the limits I've put on myself, I've realized, is just plain crazy. I decided to stop climbing mountains when I turned 30 but come to think of it when I was climbing in my mid 20s, some of the people who were climbing with me were in their mid to late 30s, 40s and there was even one who was in his 50s. What the hell was I thinking?

Tired of hearing my I'm-too-old-for-that crap, a friend recently challenged me to think and act like I'm 10 years younger, and to be fun again. So now, I'm 29 years old again and I will have fun! 

The Jack Purcell shoes is not just a pair of shoes, it is a symbol of my commitment to be fun again; and it will not be my first and last pair of Converse. I definitely need to get a pair of Chucks.