A thought-provoking confession recently appeared on Highsnobiety...
"The value of a pair of shoes also depends on the journey to find them. It’s the hunt, the sweat, and the thrill of bringing home a fresh pair of kicks in a cardboard box that makes it all worthwhile. Buying a pair of sneakers is undeniably addictive."
For many, sneakers are more than just a passion - they're almost sacred. I used to be a die-hard sneakerhead myself, with a collection that would leave people speechless. I’d save up, then spend big on those rare, limited-edition pairs. I even found myself navigating the sneaker "black market" just to get my hands on shoes that seemed to have disappeared from the planet.
Every sneakerhead knows that the value of a pair is tied not just to the shoes themselves, but to the quest to own them. That high you feel after snagging a fresh pair of sneakers? It’s addictive. There’s something about the chase, the possession, and the satisfaction of the hunt that pulls you in. I used to come home after a long day, open a box of brand-new sneakers, and just stare at them - never getting enough.
But like any addiction, it’s costly. You start to realize you need your money for more practical things. That moment hit me a few years back, and it changed everything.
Back when my collection was massive, I never wore a pair more than twice in a week. That’s where the problem lies - the habit turns into a constant craving for more shoes. You’re stuck in a cycle, always wanting the latest release, trapped by your own obsession. Eventually, you realize shoe companies won’t stop making new designs. Frustrating, right?
The turning point for me was when I took a hard look at which pairs I wore most in a month. I developed a "sneaker rotation," and soon realized I only needed a few versatile pairs that could last me through the week. Ironically, it was the older pairs that saw the most wear, while the newer, trendier ones just sat on the shelf, collecting dust.
This shift in mindset freed me. Instead of being weighed down by the pressure of choosing between dozens of pairs, I felt liberated by having just a few to choose from. My mornings became lighter, and I no longer obsessed over what to wear the next day.
"Choosing between dozens or hundreds of pairs is torture - life’s easier when you only have 10."
You won’t know true freedom until you wake up on a Saturday morning and realize you don’t have to burn brainpower or money on sneakers. Let’s face it - you’re probably never going to wear most of them more than a handful of times.
From my experience, the trendy, expensive pairs are the ones that fade quickly. The simpler the shoe, the longer it lasts, and the easier it is to work into your wardrobe.
At the end of the day, remember that sneakers aren’t the only way to express yourself.
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