Swapping out Olympic aspirations for a different kind of gold medal: surviving spinal surgery like a champion!

Meet Ashley, a former competitive figure skater and *self-proclaimed* triathlete (emphasis on “tried”) who’s swapping out Olympic aspirations for a different kind of gold medal: surviving spinal surgery like a champion!

In a life full of curveballs—actually, let’s be honest, it's more like dodgeballs—Ashley’s decided to keep it sweet by making lemonade, and no, not just the bottled kind. We're talking the daily, freshly-squeezed variety. Every day’s a new day, and when life gives you lemons, you just gotta sip with style.

Sure, some days have been a little rough (okay, *a lot* rough), but Ashley’s learned that it’s not about the setbacks; it’s about the shoes. Yes, the shoes! You see, life’s short, and if you're not wearing fabulous shoes, what’s the point of walking through it? Whether it’s strutting around in those vibrant kicks or putting one foot in front of the other on a new walking journey, Ashley’s figured out that it’s not about the finish line, it’s about the steps you take—and how fabulous your footwear is while doing it.

So, while she’s transitioning from an aspiring triathlete to a walking enthusiast (because, hey, there's *always* a silver lining in a solid pair of sneakers), Ashley’s embracing every moment, especially the ones that make her pause, reflect, and say, “Well, that sucked… but LOOK at these shoes!”

Because, let’s face it, if you can’t find your greatness on the track, at least you can find it in a pair of seriously stylish shoes. 👟