By Jackson 
It started with one.
A tiny rubber strawberry—bright red, slightly wobbly, and just ridiculous enough to make me smile. I found it in a random bin at a weekend market and snapped it into my shoe without much thought. That little charm felt like a secret joke between me and the sidewalk.
Then came the cactus. Then a slice of pizza. Then a sparkly letter “L” that didn’t stand for anything in particular, but looked cute next to the rainbow.
Before I knew it, I had a small drawer—yes, an actual drawer—dedicated to these miniature charms. My holey shoes had become a canvas, and I was the artist with no rules.
One day I went full “aesthetic mode.” Pale pink flowers, a baby bunny, tiny pearls tucked around the edges. I wore them to brunch with a soft linen dress, and someone gasped and said, “Oh my gosh, are those your shoes?” Yes. Yes, they are.
Another time I was feeling chaotic (long week, deadlines, too much caffeine). I clicked in a flaming taco, an alien head, a rubber duck, and a disco ball. I got three compliments before lunch and a weird thumbs-up from a stranger at a crosswalk. Honestly? Worth it.
And then there are the themed days.
Beach day? Shells, a sun, a blue dolphin, maybe a sandcastle.
Movie night? Popcorn bucket, 3D glasses, a film reel if I’m feeling dramatic.
Holiday season? Don’t even get me started. I’ve got pumpkins, ghosts, snowflakes, hearts, and one sad-looking turkey that always makes people laugh.
It’s funny how something so small can become such a big part of how you express yourself. They’re like wearable mood boards. Whether you’re into cottagecore or cartoons, glitter or goth—there’s a charm for that. Maybe ten.
Sometimes I change them out daily. Sometimes I leave them for weeks, like a time capsule of whatever I was loving at the moment. My best friend and I even swap them now, like old-school friendship bracelets but even sillier.
What started as a fun way to personalize a plain pair of shoes has turned into this little ritual I genuinely look forward to. Picking out charms feels like choosing accessories for your mood, your vibe, your you.
So yeah. I may have lost count after 100.
But each one?
A tiny piece of joy.
A tiny piece of me.