What happened with the shoes?

I know what you are thinking… what happened?

Where are those shoes now?

So, let me put you out of your misery.

I pushed open the store door, my heart pounding and my palms sweaty (gross, I know). It was bright, warm, and bustling, and I immediately decided I was going to be ignored as the whole shop had scoped out my Next coat and was already organising judging parties.

A young sales assistant approached me with the most warm and beautiful smile I had ever seen. She addressed me in English (I have no idea how they know) and called Adonis over from the back of the store. He had a warm and friendly presence, and I started to feel cared for and slightly relaxed.

Gareth was more interested in the girls - his eyes were out on stalks.

Adonis asked if I knew exactly what I wanted, slipped on some soft white gloves, disappeared, and then reappeared holding the shoe TA-DA!

But where were the ginger pop socks?

This was it. I had about 10 minutes max left in which to make a bolt for the door so I could either escape with my yogic enlightened soul intact or drown in a sea of materialistic bullshit attached to a pair of impractical, overpriced foot decorations for the rest of my days.

I tried them on, a usual size 4, but they were far too big, “I’m not sure if we have a size 3” Adonis said - relief it was a sign.

But they did have a size 3, and I slid my gnarly foot inside.

Practising the yogic yamas is a lifelong journey and much harder to navigate in our Western world.

A world that has become so divided is a world where the collective consciousness is attuned to having more.

It’s not about living like a monk in a cave, sipping from puddles or licking the odd stone (exaggerate, I do well). It’s about being aware of giving much more than you take. Developing compassion and kindness.

Once in the store, no other world existed for me in that brief time.

Suddenly, I felt free from my own conditioning, and everything seemed possible. Everything expanded, and I felt calm and clear.

Six years into my own personal journey, I am different; I am healing and becoming whole. But more than that, others are joining me. They are healing, too.

I sat on the train from Milan to our hotel in the suburbs, clutching a pair of shoes tightly in such a beautiful box and packaging that it was as if someone might take them off me.

Two years of manifestation - be careful what you ask for.