My parents used to always make me get my shoes from the discount store because they didn’t believe in paying name brand prices for accessories that I was going to grow out of within six months. As an adult, I can understand what they were thinking. But as a child I felt devastated that I could never be one of "the cool kids" because I didn’t have the right shoes.

When I first entered adulthood, I fought against this old feeling by purchasing expensive designer shoes. However, I quickly realized that there’s a good reason why people don’t pay those kinds of prices for things that go on their feet! I also realized that many name-brand shoes aren’t too kind to your toes. These days, I’m more likely to buy shoes for comfort than for style.

But when I get the chance to put "comfort" and "cool" together, I take that opportunity. I wear Converse sneakers when I go for walks. And I wear Havaianas thongs or Brazil thongs when I go to the beach. Sure, they’re just tennis shoes and surf thongs but they’re the kind of thing that the cool kids will recognize as "cool".

I know, I know - I don’t have to be cool anymore. But it’s kind of nice to indulge that old child in you that didn’t get the chance to have fun as a kid. And if it doesn’t cost you anything in money or comfort, what’s the reason not to?

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