Boots for Walking?

Even though I’ve only had this blog for about 6 months it seems I’m already rather attached to it as recently I’ve realised that I’ve not just been missing walking but I’ve also missed typing about it. Of course as I’ve noted before the problem with having a blog about walking is that my inspiration comes from being out on a stroll and not from sitting at a computer screen. But then as I admired my latest purchase a thought popped into my head – do our hobbies shape us or are we drawn to pursuits that are already inherently suited to us?

You may be wondering what I’m blathering on about and that would be a fair question so let me try and explain with an example. I don’t fit the stereotype of women loving shopping. For me, it’s a means to an end and so generally I rarely buy something for the sake of it, that’s not too say I only buy essentials but there’s usually a fairly good reason for making the purchase. Although it has become a bit of a running joke that if I do buy something new, especially at this time of year, it will either be a snuggly jumper or a pair of boots.

My most recent buy was one I had been tempted to make for a while but it was a bit frivolous and not something I really needed so I put it off. However I kept seeing adverts for this item and when it was showing as almost sold out I gave in as I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t go for it. So I am now the proud owner of a pair of silver, knee-high cowboy boots. They are fab and make me smile so definitely worth the money.

However I realised that even with this seemingly daft purchase, walking was still an influencing factor. As these are cowboy style boots they have a Cuban heel so while I wouldn’t wear them on a hike, if there were a problem with the trains I’d easily be able to walk home in them, even if that meant walking a mile or 2. In the past I have been tempted by heeled shoes and boots as they can look nice but then they’ve been abandoned in favour of more conformable ones. So now I don’t even bother looking at them, I either go for a flat sole or maybe a small, chunky heel but nothing too high and certainly not pointed – stilettos are definitely out!

In my usual roundabout fashion we return to my original question. If I were to claim to have a “style” it would be comfortable. You’ll mostly find me in jeggings, jumper and boots in winter and then cropped jeans and sandals in the summer. But do I favour these clothes because I know they are ones that I can easily walk in or do I like walking because it fits my practical, no-nonsense approach to life?

I case it’s another variation on the classic nature versus nurture debate. With that one I tend to fall more on the side of nature, nurturing can help but I think our core characteristics are ingrained within us. Which I guess means that I was born a walker and my sense of “style” grew from that. Perhaps if I was a photographer I’d look out for stretchy clothes that allow me to crouch for the perfect shot, do painters look for easy-clean garments? As a walker I like a chunky, cleated sole but would that be too impactful for a runner, do they gravitate towards soft soles? I also love reading so is that why I’m drawn to cosy nooks and crannies over open-planned minimalism?

Of course now I’ve made it this far and I realise I have no conclusion & this was really just a random musing and a way to get me writing again. Perhaps that’s the lesson, in amongst all the things we have to do it’s important to find time for the things we enjoy doing as these are the pursuits that make us who we are.

That’s how I stroll.