Tapadera

When my dad was around 13 years old, his homeland, Poland, was invaded by both Germany and the former Soviet Union. As a teenager, he became witness to many atrocities that were committed against his countrymen and women by the invading forces.

These experiences left an indelible mark on him for the rest of his life.  But it wasn't until years later I realized a weird piece of advice he would always give my siblings and I was born from the horrors he witnessed.

It was when we were buying new shoes, he would always insist that we got the best quality and best fit that we could afford.  I used to laugh it off.  There were so many pretty shoes, what did it matter if they gave me a little blister after an evening of dancing?

My dad rarely talked about his experiences during the war.  But one day, he was proudly showing me a fine pair of Italian leather shoes that he'd gotten an exceptional deal on, and I asked him why he always insisted on getting the best quality shoes.

Then he told me about the friends and neighbours who disappeared in the dark.  The soldiers would pound on doors in the middle of the night.  Terrified and half-asleep the people had to dress quickly, never knowing if they would return home or not.  Often they were forced to march at gunpoint - sometimes for miles.  Cheap shoes became deadly.  A broken heel or strap, or shoes that pinched or blistered could make a person fall behind, slow up the pace of the group.  Without mercy, they could be shot - a warning for the rest of the group to keep up or die.  Even if one was able to march in ill-fitting shoes, a blister left to fester for days or weeks without proper medical attention could mean a painful death from infection.

Luckily, today we live in a peaceful land.  And hopefully, dear readers, none of us will ever have to experience what my father and many others have gone through in times of war and invasion.

But the lesson that my dad learned can be applied to so many facets of our lives:

"Buy the best quality you can afford."

Not only does the best quality have the classic good looks that will stand the test of time, but the durability of a well-made object will save you money throughout your life.  If you get bored with your purchase, quite often the item can be altered or remodeled at a lower cost than buying new.  Or it can be recycled or even upcycled into something new.

It may take you a few years to see the return on your initial investment, but when you calculate the costs of cheap items that break and have to be replaced often, versus one well-made item that lasts and lasts, then you can see that you're not only saving your hard-earned money, but you're also keeping things out of the landfill and helping save the environment for future generations.