I Heart Issue

My heart needs constant gratification. It’s shallow that way. It sees a red hot pair of boots and falls head over heels. Must have, can’t live without, will not be denied. I stalk the shoe store hoping to catch a glimpse of them in the window. I confide in my friends – should I take the plunge? I fantasize about them, imagine myself wearing them and ignore all the warning signs. I don’t need red boots, after all, and they don’t fit my lifestyle. And isn’t the price almost too good to be true? But none of it matters, because I can’t live without these boots. Once I have them, my heart soars and life is good. For the first few times we’re out together. Then my heart has second thoughts. Are they too flashy to wear to a dinner party? That stitching – isn’t it a little sloppy? And don’t they hug my calves too tightly, almost possessively? My heart starts to fall out of love and wonders what it ever saw in the red boots. In broad daylight, away from the alluring store display and seductive lighting, don’t they look almost…cheap? My heart turns cold…I’ve outgrown the red boots. We no longer have anything in common. They embarrass me when we’re out with a pair of Frye boots or worse yet, some exotic, hard-to-get Golden Goose boots with a 15-inch shaft and an Italian accent. Soon the red boots are shoved to the back of the closet or passed on to a friend who doesn’t see their flaws. I was just infatuated, I realize. Impulsive, needy, carried away by the moment. Next time, I’ll be more cautious. I won’t be swayed by a quick fit or flattering mirrors. Next time, I’ll try them on more than once, get to know them, take my friends to meet them and get their seal of approval. Next time, I’ll know better.