I’ve been wearing the same pair of running shoes for years now. I finally bought a new pair after I was having trouble telling if I was wearing shoes or completely freaking barefoot. The search for a new pair begins. Where to look? Dave’s Upstairs Discount Shoe Emporium? Nope. The “Niike” site? Nope. Everything’s 70% Off Cuz There’s Something Weird About It site? Nope. I went to the fancy running shoe site. The one with all the scientists and shoe nerds and computer renderings and 1000s of hours in road testing and human heart going into their work. The guys who love running and can’t wait to tell you about their shoes. The guys who tell you to wear their shoes for 30 days and if you don’t love them, they’ll give you all your money back. Are they more expensive? Yep. Am I even close to a gajillionaire? Nope. I just don’t “skimp” on certain things.
Ever since my early 20’s, the days of “do I pay my phone bill or my band rehearsal space bill?” (Always the rehearsal space.), I’ve felt there are certain things in life you don’t skimp on. And footwear has always been on the list. Our feet are the first things to hit the floor in the morning and the last things to leave it. They are the custodians of our mobility and the mediators between us and the planet. You’re goddam right I put good shoes on them. I’ll make up the money somewhere else and maybe not buy that super cool jacket that’s gonna go hang next to the other super cool jackets in my closet.
Toilet paper’s on sale!!! I don’t care! I’m getting the fancy stuff infused with aloe and unicorn tears. Give me the good stuff! Do I really need to get into why?
“Hey, I know a really cheap dentist who could do your root canal for like nothing. They work out of their garage so you’ll save money.” No thanks, I’d rather go into debt for the next 4 years. So that was the “Don’t Skimp List”… footwear, toilet paper and dental work.
We all skimp somewhere though and a lot of the times it’s where we shouldn’t. We skimp in the amount of sleep we get or the amount of the attention we give our loved ones or the kind of food and water we put in our bodies or the quality of attention we give meditation, reading or laughing. We all skimp in places we shouldn’t for one reason or another. Don’t skimp on the things you can’t buy. Where are you skimping and how can you switch over to the good stuff? P.S. I don’t skimp on airlines either. | 
