More of the same is good

Blue is my favourite colour. It makes me think of bright skies and wide-open seascapes, movement, hope and possibility. It also makes me think of new shoes.

Like many autistic women, comfort is my first consideration. For me, most days that means trainers. I can’t understand why anyone would choose to cripple their feet, slow themselves down and limit their activities by wearing high heels just to conform to society’s ridiculous notion of how a woman ‘should’ look.

But the neurotypical world is a pretty inexplicable place. So when it comes to shoes and clothes, the certainty of sameness is lovely. The thought that something I’ve come to love might no longer be available when it’s time for a replacement is stress I don’t need.

When I find something I like, I buy two or three: identical t-shirts from Gap, identical dresses from Weird Fish, identical shirts and jumpers from Sea Salt, identical walking tops from Montane, identical jeggings and yoga pants (currently six pairs in different colours) from White Stuff, identical shorts from North Face, identical pants and bras from M&S.

It’s the same with shoes. If I’m not in boots or sandals, La Sportiva Mutants in opal/aqua are my go-to choice. I wear them to meetings, to the shops, to the gym. I’ve even crossed Scotland in them twice, walking every step of the way from one coast to the other.

So you can imagine my happiness when I unwrapped a new pair this week, checked them over and popped them to the back of the understairs cupboard along with the other pristine pair waiting their turn.

When life is a baffling mess of uncertainty and change, it’s good to be sure of your shoes.

Picture: Trevor Morgan