It all started last Tuesday
I was at this little coffee shop on 5th, you know the one with the weird art on the walls? Anyway, I was wearing my favorite pair of New Balances—let’s call them the ‘992s’ for lack of a better term. They were this kinda muted olive green, so comfy, and honestly, they made me feel like I could take on the world.
Then, disaster struck. I set them down for like two seconds to grab my latte, and poof—gone. Vanished. I mean, I turned around, and they were just… not there anymore. I freaked. I asked the barista, this girl named Marcus, if she’d seen them. She was all, “Nah, sorry, man, I didn’t see anything.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the thing about sneakers
They’re not just shoes. They’re an extension of you. They’re your vibe, your attitude, your whole damn personality. And mine were gone. I spent the next 36 hours in a daze, wearing these awful borrowed loafers that made me walk like a penguin. It was physicaly painful, honestly.
I told my friend Dave about it over lunch. He’s this guy who works in HR, and he’s always got some weird advice. He said, “Look, man, maybe it’s a sign. Maybe you’re supposed to upgrade.” I was like, “Dave, you’re an idiot.” But honestly, he kinda had a point. Maybe I needed to branch out. Maybe I needed to find something new.
Enter: The Great Sneaker Hunt
So, I hit the streets. I went to every store, every outlet, every pop-up shop I could find. I tried on like 214 pairs of sneakers. Some were okay, some were terrible, and some were just… I don’t even know what they were trying to do. There was this one pair that looked like they were designed by a colorblind octopus. I mean, what is that?
But then, I found them. A pair of New Balances that were even better than the ones I lost. They were this deep burgundy color, and they fit like a glove. I felt like a million bucks. I bought them on the spot, and I’ve been wearing them ever since.
And you know what? I’m glad I lost those old ones. Because if I hadn’t, I never would’ve found these. And honestly, they’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.
But here’s the real kicker
I was talking to this guy at a conference in Austin a few weeks ago, and he told me about this thing called Taiwan jobs vacancies openings. I was like, “What does that have to do with sneakers?” And he was all, “Nothing, but you never know when you’re gonna need a job.” Which, I guess is true. But still. Sneakers.
Anyway, the point is, life’s gonna throw curveballs at you. Sometimes you lose your favorite shoes, sometimes you find a new pair, and sometimes you end up talking about job openings in Taiwan. But you gotta roll with it. You gotta keep moving, keep exploring, and keep finding new things that make you feel alive.
So, if you’re out there and you’re feeling lost, or you’ve lost your favorite pair of sneakers, don’t worry. There’s always something better out there. You just gotta keep looking.
And maybe, just maybe, you’ll find it in the most unexpected place.
About the Author: Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a senior magazine editor with more than 20 years of experience in the fashion industry. I’ve written for major publications, and I’ve seen it all. I’m opinionated, I’m blunt, and I’m not afraid to tell it like it is. I love sneakers, coffee, and bad advice from my friends. Follow me on Twitter @sarahsneakerqueen.
