To Buy or Say Goodbye? That is the Question.

Most women have a common passion, in a word, shoes. No matter what our age, marital status, budget or size, we can always find a pair to perk up our outlooks and raise our spirits. Nothing does it better that a great pair of shoes.

One summer evening, I joined a group of women while wearing a special new pair and I was greeted with sighs of envy.

"Those are positively wicked!" one woman quipped with a sly grin.

"Thank you," I replied, smiling with a glow of satisfaction.

"I just can't wear heels anymore," she added.

Well, that gave me pause for thought! I nearly panicked at the prospect of never wearing heels again. Upon further reflection, I had to admit that I was choosing the flats more and more myself as it became less feasible to navigate through an entire day wearing stilettos. When does the day finally arrive when heels are no longer an option? Is it a gradual thing we work ourselves into, like elastic waistbands? Do we unconsciously navigate to the cushy flats on our shopping trips until our supply of sassy shoes has dwindled and we are left with nothing but the basic black flats that our grandmothers wore.

"To hell with this," I say.

 Still I wonder, at what age does wearing the latest shoe trend look silly?

The answer to this question is the same as in all things. We have to be comfortable with our choices. Whatever we do, we must do with good taste and a sense of style. Perhaps the heel is a little lower than it used to be, but it can still be fun. Flats do not have to be boring.  I love my Roman sandles.

Even so, I do not plan to give up my heels any time soon. I will keep the flats for everyday wear and long walks, but will revel in my higher options for dinner parties and other gatherings where panache is a plus. If it requires a soak in a foot bath and a bandaid or two, it is worth it!
                                                               

Blame it on Barbie!

Those of us turning 50 this year share our birth year with a very special lady. She is on a first name basis with the world and her product line has achieved brand recognition around the globe. We grew up with her, as did our daughters, as will our granddaughters. You guessed it! Barbie!

Barbie first came on the scene in 1959. She came clad in a black and white striped swimsuit and high heels. The following year her boyfriend Ken was created, and the two were an item up until 2004, once of the longest courtships of all time. All little girls love Barbie and some big girls too. Who can resist the cute little shoes in all varieties?

Barbie has created a stir now and then with some discussions concerning her body proportions and the image that she perpetuates with young women. Although there are various opinions as to how her measurements stack up to a full size woman of similar proportions, the dimensions go something like this: 38" bust, 18" waist and 34" hips. Now we are talking some seriously unattainable goals here ladies. Not even Scarlett O'Hara with the strongest corset in Atlanta could achieve this. So if we wonder why our bodies have never has quite matched up with our expectations, blame it on Barbie!
                                                               

Is 50 the new 40?

As I face the final countdown to the big 5-0, I take solace in this popular catch phrase. But is 50 really the new 40? It seems that 50 something women are healthier, happier and some say more attractive than past generations of women at this time in their lives. We are as a group more independent than our mothers and grandmothers at fifty. We do indeed watch our weight and worry about our waistlines a great deal more that generations past. Our lives move faster with technological advances leading the way.

Most of us take stock in ourselves and our lives upon reaching a milestone such at this. We take a look not only at where we have been but where we are going. We ponder what may be missing in our lives while at the same time giving thanks for all that we do have. We evaluate what direction to take as we enter the next phase. Questions we ask ourselves:

Shall I continue on the same path as before or should I choose the path less traveled? What would I change about my life if I could?

To answer these and other questions, please join me.