By Jackson 
I thought I liked my holey shoes just the way they were.
Soft, simple, practical. They sat by the door like loyal pets, ready to go wherever life needed me next. But one day, while waiting in line for coffee, I looked down—and saw someone else wearing the exact same pair. Same color. Same everything.
We both glanced at each other’s feet. She smiled. I nodded. But inside? A tiny panic.
Wait. Are my shoes… boring?
That night, I dumped my charm box on the table. Buttons, trinkets, random pieces from old keychains—anything that might fit. I wasn’t thinking about fashion rules or trends. I just wanted to make them mine.
I gave myself five minutes. No overthinking. Just instinct.
First, I snapped in a tiny charm of a sleepy cat. That one had to be there. Then a silver star. Then a mint green lightning bolt I didn’t even remember owning. In the last 30 seconds, I added a gummy bear and a little quote tag that said: “Don’t overdo it.” The irony was not lost on me.
I slipped the shoes back on and looked in the mirror.
Suddenly, they looked like something out of my daydreams—playful, weird, and strangely… right. Like an extension of my sense of humor. A quiet shout of “this is me” from the ground up.
The next morning, I wore them to the bakery. The barista glanced down and said, “Those are fun. Did you design them yourself?”
Well, kind of.
Now, every time I leave the house, I give them a quick glance and smile. They still carry the same comfort. The same softness. But now they also carry me.
So, if your holey shoes are still in factory mode—still looking like everyone else’s—do yourself a favor.
Give them five minutes.
No rules. No pressure.
Just you, your shoes, and whatever little pieces of personality you’ve got lying around.
It might just be the most fun you’ll ever have on a Tuesday night.