A Shoe Lesson

Today I learned something new about myself. I have hammer toes.  I've always had long feet and long toes. I have toes so long they curl downwards and bend a little on the joints.  I've known these to be my toes as long as I could remember and have accepted them as part of my feet.  However, finally today, upon walking into a specialized shoe store, I found out the truth. I have hammer toes, which is actually a deformity at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the second, third, and forth toe causing it to be permanently bent, resembling a hammer. Don't worry, I'll spare you of any disgusting pictures of my actual toes to prove my point.  I was not born with hammer toes (at least I don't think I was).  They are results of wearing poor-fitting shoes, forcing the toe to a bent position.  As I hear the shoe/foot specialist explain all of this to me, I knew that he was right.  I have worn too many shoes that are really too tight for me! Of course, growing up - who knew about all these things? We never had our feet measured. Shoe-shopping was a trip off to Payless or something equivalent and find a shoe that fit the budget. Even when I got to buy my own shoes, I've sometimes compromised comfort for style instead. I was also stupid enough to believe in an old wives tale that if I wear a big shoe, my foot would grow even bigger to fit that shoe. So I always opted for a smaller shoe even though it was snug.

I ended up buying a pair of Brooks Addiction shoes from the shoe store. They are one of the ugliest shoes out there, not to mention that they are ginormous in size!! But if you notice, this shoe doesn't have any arches.  In fact, I have an insert in there on the arch so when I walk, it forces the toes to flatten out (rather than bend).

    

I've learned my lesson.  From now on, I will buy shoes that I have wiggle room in and that I can stretch out and flatten my toes inside the shoes.  I may be wearing the biggest shoe on the planet known to mankind, but at least I can be comfortable!!