I don’t know about you, but David and I—and even Granny Sherry and my sister—has been noticing something our feet have been hurting more. Not, only that Charlie’s has to and he is a young adult still teen.
That’s why I wanted to bring you a new post in Life in Bloom. This is part of our Life On The Downhill Side of 60 series: because as you may not know I am on the downhill side of 60. Even though I don’t like admitting it. We all get older and start to fall apart.
This is why I wanted to share a new post with you and a series sharing When Your Feet Start Telling the Truth: Walking More, Hurting Less, and Living Life Anyway Because there really isn’t anything else we can do except listen to what our bodies are telling us. Arguing back will not change anything.
here comes a point in life where you stop ignoring what your feet are trying to tell you. For me, it wasn’t one big moment. It was a bunch of small moments where I had trouble even standing on my foot to walk—which isn’t good for a busy mom.
A walk that used to feel easy now leaves me thinking about my knees halfway through. Standing in the kitchen too long and realizing my lower back is tired before I even finish my chores for the day. Wanting to get my steps in because I know it matters, especially as I’m overweight and need to lose weight—but also realizing that “just walking” isn’t always as simple as it sounds anymore.
And I started noticing it in my family too. My teen who is always moving with sports. Then there is David heading into work long shifts where he’s on his feet more than he realizes. And me—trying to keep up with life, stay active, lose a little weight, and not feel like every step comes with a reminder that I’m not 30 anymore.
That’s when I started paying attention to something I used to ignore completely: what’s inside the shoes. The part of shoes nobody really talks about. We focus so much on the shoe itself—style, brand, cushioning—but not enough on what’s actually supporting your foot all day.
That’s where I came across shoe insoles called CURREX Dynamic Arch Technology: The idea is simple. Your arch support shouldn’t be stiff or forced. It should move with your foot instead of fighting against it. And when I think about that in real life—it just makes sense. We don’t stand still all day. So why should our feet be supported like we do?
Different people, same problem
For me, it’s walking more, trying to stay active, and not feeling worn down after errands or housework. For David, it’s long work shifts where his feet are just done by the end of the day. For my teen, it’s sports—running, jumping, stopping, starting, and doing it all again. Three completely different lives. Same truth: tired feet change everything.
Once your feet hurt, everything else follows—your back, your energy, even your mood. Just ask David and Charlie how cranky I get when my knee is hurting, even though it isn’t their fault and there is nothing they can do.
Shoes matter more than we admit
I used to think comfort was just about buying “good shoes.” But I’m learning it’s not just the shoe—it’s what’s inside the shoe too, as well as what the shoe is designed to do.
I live in Skechers Go Walks, because Skechers is all Suzzane would wear. and Charlie lives in his Converse—neither of us would give them up. Then there is David is his Walmart shoes because he says its all he can afford after buying what Charlie and I like.
That’s where insoles and support come in, and why I started paying attention to everyday walking comfort. When you’re on your feet a lot, small comfort changes actually matter. It’s not about perfection. It’s about keeping going.
Closing thought
I don’t think life changes because we make one big decision. I think it changes because we start paying attention to the small ones. Like what’s inside our shoes. Like how far we can walk before we start thinking about pain instead of the moment, we’re in.
And maybe that’s what Life in Bloom really means. Not becoming someone new. Just taking better care of the life you already have.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
