For  more years than I care to admit I have had an ongoing love affair. Try as I might, I simply cannot break the bonds. I try to stay away, but I keep getting drawn back.

And I’m sure there are many women in the same situation. My love affair is with…shoes.

When I feel a little down, I head to the shoe store. When money is tight, I tell myself I am simply going to “visit’ the shoes. And this usually does the trick. But sometimes when you walk into the store you know your destiny is waiting and it could be in that cute pair of wedges with the intricate design on the heel or in the 3-inch multi-colored Bandolinos.

Women and their love of shoes is something men simply cannot understand. I mean what woman has not heard a man ask, “why do you need so many shoes?” Chances are the response we give is a simple, “They’re cute” or “I just do, that’s all.”

But deep down, we all know why we love shoes. Perhaps it is on a subconscious level, but the true answer is there. And perhaps we are afraid to admit it to ourselves because then we would be admitting we are not perfect.

The real reason for our love affair with shoes is that shoes do not discriminate.

Any women, no matter her size or shape, can try on a pair of shoes that will leave her feeling good.

If you stop and think about it, you will realize this is true.

I mean, when was the last time you heard a woman ask her boyfriend, husband, lover “Do these shoes make my butt look fat?” or “Do I look fat in these shoes?”

Yes, that’s what I thought.

Shoes do not discriminate. We can wear them without the dread or fear of looking in the mirror and finding flaws with our bodies or not liking what is staring back at us.

So, the next time that special man in your life asks the shoe question, simply smile and say “Because shoes do not discriminate” and leave it at that.