How a Pair of Second Hand Chuck Taylors became a Vehicle for Storytelling

Like everyone else, I'm aware I need to build social media to reach an audience for my upcoming book, "Broken Melody." But I don't feel comfortable in pictures. I've spent my life being in the moment, not shooting a frame. More often than not, my eyes are closed, my left lip quivers into a crooked smile, or my stringy hair flies haphazardly in all directions.

This is why my shoes became my social media stars.

My shoes have no political affiliation, no pretense, no attitude. They remind me not to focus on what's different in each of us, but on what's unique. The shoes possess confidence and verve that the author of "Broken Melody" doesn't. They are the vehicle to turn a casual encounter into a meaningful interaction.

My vibe is funky across decades, authentic truth in art, music, people. That's what my second-hand, pink sparkly Chuck Taylors say to me every time I put them on. It happened when I went to a thrift store to buy gifts for my upcoming sparkle party—pink earmuffs, scarves, sweaters, purses, all for bargain prices to support homeless women. As I walked out, a pair of lonely Chuck Taylors caught my attention. Pink stars with bedazzled rhinestones, in exactly my size of six and a half. Walking to the truth. That's my shoe origin story.

K.M. Cookie with her iconic Chuck Taylors

The shoes match my energy. I love that they were pre-owned. By shoe story begins, where another stopped. Someone who loves hearts and rhinestones rivets. Maybe she couldn’t wear high heels either.

Who am I besides liking a bargain and embracing the second life of my shoes, like my story? I'm a woman that took until midlife to find my power through writing. Now I appreciate little moments each day. I celebrate across decades, new and old.

My shoes stay by my side. No expectations, no judgment, never using the word "should." Pure, unadulterated love, each step bouncing, forging toward the future. Reminding me to continue forward, don't sidestep, and it's ok to stop sometimes and enjoy the view. A destination is nice, the journey is nicer. The physical act of putting one foot in front of another, that is what my writing represents.

Through my shoes, I document the journey, showing where I've been and where I'm going. They tell my story in a way my uncomfortable smile never could.