Okay, so when I was little, I’m talking like three or four, all I did was wear high heels … well, my mom’s high heels, my sister’s, my aunt’s, my cousin’s, etc. They were 15 sizes too big, but I loved them and called the my “sippy shoes.” Why? Well, I have no idea. I would just shuffle to and fro where ever I went. I remember this fabulous pair of sparkly silver sling backs that I think my great aunt gave me, who was once a Rockette. I would kill to still have them, but I think I wore them down to the core. Of course my mom got me those Disney plastic pink heels for little girls, but I was more fascinated with the real thing. I’ve been told that when we would go visit people, no matter who it was, I would immediately ask for a pair of high heels to wear. This is one of the few stories from my childhood that I don’t cringe at.

And then up until, oh I don’t know, three years ago, I never wore heels. I loved them, I freaking coveted them. But I let my insecurities and height issues get in the way. Now I have an obsessive love affair with high heels. I’m living out my “sippy shoe” fantasy that I had when I was four. I’m now to the point that if I’m not wearing heels, I feel weird and short … something I never thought I would EVER feel. Wearing flats makes me feel dumpy or boring, a strange sensation since I lived in flats most of my adolescent life. I find myself shuffling along in flats but when I wear heels I rock this insane sense of confidence.

But I hear all of these horror stories from mature women who have walked a mile or two in thousands of pairs of heels that have told me how mangled their feet are from them. Even my own mother, who would kill to rock four-inch stilettos, just can’t do it anymore because of the damage she has done to her tootsies. This made me think that yes, living in the moment and slipping on my four-inch stiletto over the knee leather boots day after day means nothing to me now … but what will it mean in 40 years if I keep up this behavior?

I just read a report from the New York Times that basically said women who wear heels are more susceptible to injury and strain than woman who rock flats. Well, duh. We are also more susceptible to bunions and calluses and gargoyle feet … but try telling yourself that when a pair of gorgeous Loubs are starring you straight in the face. Wearing five-inch stilettos absolutely is not the smartest thing to do, I don’t care if you are 5 foot nothing. They are insanely difficult to walk in and absolutely cause you to strain in certain areas which may cause injury. Hell, I wear three and four-inch heels and find myself straining … not to mention falling and God only knows what else.

I’m going to throw it out there. After rocking stilettos all day, every woman knows that throbbing feeling your feet get when you take them off … and if that isn’t a sign that you are doing some major damage to your feet, then well, you are a freaking idiot and deserve to wear ugly flats for the rest of your life. I’ll give it to these researchers though, they are no fools. They know women will NEVER stop wearing heels … ever. As long as Louboutin and Jimmy Choo still exist … they will strain the shit out of their feet. But they do say to try and relax your feet as much as you can, perhaps while driving and or sitting at your desk. I could absolutely keep a pair of slippers underneath my desk to “relax.” This is the best idea ever.

I recently purchased the highest pair of shoes I’ve ever owned, like four and 1/2 inches with a sick platform (they are to die for), and literally walked from my car to the office and had to remove them because my feet couldn’t take it. I’ve been actively rocking heels for the past three years, I’m 25, and unfortunately I can already see my feet changing … for the worst. But apart of me is still that four-year old girl who is fascinated by my “sippy shoes.”

But like the Times article said, heels will look just as fabulous sitting next to you as you rest your feet. But then again, women are women … and after decades and decades of high heels, I don’t care what kind of study comes out, we ain’t givin’ up on them.