Give your feet a first-class upgrade. Walk first class, every single day.
A good friend once shared some advice an elder had given her: “Live like an emperor when you travel abroad. Back home, it’s okay to live like a beggar.”So she would get by on bread in Taiwan, but always treat herself to wonderful meals overseas.
The intention was kind: you’ve made the trip, so enjoy it fully. At the time, I thought I understood. Still, something about it didn’t quite sit right.
After taking a trip to the UK myself, I understood the feeling better. When you’re saving for a dream, you’re willing to go without today so you can indulge when you finally get there.
But sometime after turning thirty, my thinking began to change.
I no longer wanted everyday life to become an endurance test between holidays. Precisely because I couldn’t travel every day, I wanted to make every day worth living.
Work with enough care to feel proud of what I accomplish. Eat well enough to feel good in my body. Make my home a place I love, and speak up about the space I need instead of constantly making room for everyone else’s clutter.
And the shoes I wear every day? However beautiful they are, if they’re uncomfortable, I’m happy to let them go.
I used to think, “I’ve already paid for them. I can put up with it a little longer.”Now I ask, “Do I really want my feet to keep paying for that decision?”
What does first class mean?Space of your own. Room to lie back comfortably. A delicious meal. All the thoughtful touches that make a long journey less exhausting. The distance stays the same, but how you feel when you arrive can be very different.
When the workday is already demanding—the sun is relentless, the ground uneven, and the tasks urgent and difficult—comfort underfoot deserves some attention. Choose an exceptional pair of shoes that fits well, gives your feet room, and offers comfortable support. Less rubbing and restriction. A little more ease with every step. On a tiring day, that comfort can feel like a small saving grace.
Commuting, picking up lunch, catching a train, taking a walk: most of the journeys our feet carry us through are ordinary ones. They make up so much of our lives. They deserve care.Enough care that, after a busy day, we still feel like walking a little farther, enjoying the streets around us, or stopping by a favourite shop.
I still look forward to my next trip. I’m also learning to care for the life I live between trips.After all, holidays come only a few times a year. Life happens every day.
