I've owned the same pair of running shoes for about 5 years. I bought them in preparation for an obstacle race that I was running, and they've served me well ever since. We've worked on farms together, swam across lakes, and pedaled endless miles on bike trails and country roads. In short, my shoes and I have been through a lot over the years, and I guess you could say we've bonded as a result. That being said, it's becoming clear that our relationship will soon be coming to an end. The rubber soles are slowly falling apart, and tiny holes are forming in the cloth uppers. It's not a good look. And I should've bought a new pair months ago, but a combination of cheapness and sentimentality have caused me to hold off for the time being. I remember when I first entered a Zen center and carelessly kicked my shoes off by the door. I came back after practice to find that they'd been placed side by side against the wall with my laces t
by Sensei Alex Kakuyo