My feet got bigger during the pandemic. I know I’m not the only one. All that time working from home meant no heels and no tight dress shoes. Just slippers and sneakers (if that). I was having a great shoeless time at home in my fuzzy socks. And after months (ahem, years) of comfort, my feet… stayed that way. Wider. Less willing to be crammed into the cute shoes I used to love. And suddenly, none of my shoe collection fit quite the same.
What Do You Do When the Shoe Doesn’t Fit Anymore?
When we were kids, outgrowing shoes was expected and a sign we were growing, changing, becoming. But as adults? When our bodies or our lives shift, we don’t always give ourselves the same grace. Do we try to squeeze ourselves back into the old styles, the old versions of who we were?
Or do we rebuild with something that feels better now, even if it looks different from before?
The last few years have changed all of us. Some of us lost loved ones. Some of us are living with the lingering effects of long COVID. Some of us have simply slowed down in ways we didn’t expect. And yet, for all the changes, many of us are still trying to walk around in “shoes” that no longer fit: old routines, old expectations, old self-images. I feel lucky that my most obvious physical COVID change is needing a larger shoe size. But even something as simple as shoes can be a mirror for transformation.
A Quick Reflection for You
Here’s a simple practice to explore how your life has shifted since 2020:
👠 How has my everyday footwear changed since the pandemic?
👟 Was that change my choice, or did life choose for me?
🧦 How do I feel about my “new shoes,” & my life in 2025?
Now, take it a step further: Have you been holding on tightly as life sped up or slowed down in unexpected ways? Are you still trying to fit into the person you once were. Or is it time to choose something new that truly fits you now?
If this is the first time you’ve stopped to think about how different your life has become, that’s okay. It’s never too late to pause, to reflect, and to choose your next step with intention. Sometimes we need a guide, a reminder that it’s safe to let go of the old shoes and walk toward something better.
Let’s Try On New Shoes Together
If you’re craving clarity for your next chapter, I’d love to help.
👉 Click here to schedule your free 30-minute clarity session.
“If at first you don’t succeed, grab another pair of shoes and try again.” –Paulette Klein
Juli Nixon 