While researching on the Internet trying to find out how much money Americans spend on shoes each year, I instead found multiple links to a report declaring Charles Darwin spent more money on shoes than books while at Cambridge.
After I stopped pondering why delving into Darwin’s 19th century financial choices while a young student would be so interesting to so many, I decided to say “kudos” to Darwin’s memory for at least putting his money where his feet were. The report didn’t specify if Darwin suffered from arch pain or flat feet nor do I know if he would have preferred shoes for plantar fasciitis. But maybe he spent more money on shoes to make sure he cared for his feet?
Your feet are like any other part of your body that you want to keep in working order for as long as you can. Your teeth are brushed and flossed daily and checked by a dentist twice a year to make them last longer. You exercise and eat healthy foods now to prolong your life later. Weight lifting at a young age helps prevent osteoporosis at an old one. And so it goes: What we invest in our bodies earlier in life will benefit us later in life.
But we haven’t yet realized feet are another part of the body that must be watched over and cared for in order for them to last longer. We—unlike Darwin—aren’t putting our money on our feet. OK, we are, but not necessarily with the smartest choices.
I’ve known a girlfriend to spend $600 on in flimsy, strappy pair of high-heeled sandals that were horrible for her feet and body. At the other end of the scale, I know someone who slips on $2.50 flip flops before stepping out her back door. In both cases, price is irrelevant. The shoes are bad for the feet and will cause foot pain at some point if worn too much or too long. Meaning we’re spending the money, but not protecting our feet from future arch pain and foot pain, and maybe even flat feet.
Bad shoe choices early can lead to foot pain and arch pain by middle age, and even more complications by our senior years, like flat feet. Smart shoe choices can prolong how long our feet serve us pain-free. Good shoes with arch support help prevent problems like flat feet and arch pain from developing, and the other body pains that result from flat feet.
Did Darwin invest in good shoes to prevent arch pain and flat feet? Or maybe Darwin spent more money on shoes than books because he was simply vain.
April 22, 2010 at 1:16 pm |
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