--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My protagonists have problems that a new…" description: "\"My protagonists have problems that a new pair of shoes won't solve. Retail therapy is not a bad thing, but it's not going to fix their lives.\" — Mary K..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af7/mary-kay-andrews-8891_bad_my-protagonists-have-problems-that-a-new_1178190.jpg" --- # My protagonists have problems that a new pair of shoes… ![“My protagonists have problems that a new pair of shoes won't solve. Retail therapy is not a bad thing, but it's not going to fix their lives.” quote by Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af7/mary-kay-andrews-8891_bad_my-protagonists-have-problems-that-a-new_1178190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af7/mary-kay-andrews-8891_bad_my-protagonists-have-problems-that-a-new_1178190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af7/mary-kay-andrews-8891_bad_my-protagonists-have-problems-that-a-new_1178190.jpg) > “My protagonists have problems that a new pair of shoes won't solve. Retail therapy is not a bad thing, but it's not going to fix their lives.” [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Material fixes like new shoes can't solve deep personal problems; true change needs deeper work. **In simple terms:** Shoes won’t fix life issues; Key Takeaway Focus on inner growth over quick fixes. Themes self‑improvement materialism well‑being Mood reflective cautious Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - shopping therapy - career change - relationship counseling - personal development Key Concepts Consumerism psychological health Questions to Reflect On - What deeper steps can you take to improve your life? - When does retail therapy become avoidance? A Different Perspective Superficial solutions can mask underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) ## Related quotes > [“Shopping eased the pain. -Hailey, Retail Therapy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-bailey/shopping-eased-the-pain-hailey-retail-therapy/) Roz Bailey > [I wasn't going to get such a nice car - I was going to get a cute little hybrid or something, keep the trees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/i-wasn-t-going-to-get-such-a-nice-car-i-was-going-to-get-a-cute/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [“Retail therapy—usually one of my first resorts—wasn’t working; I felt like a cat that smelled pit bull.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-n-hanover/retail-therapy-usually-one-of-my-first-resorts-wasn-t-working-i-felt/) [M.L.N. Hanover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-n-hanover/) > [I'm paranoid about shopping. I get irritable. I find it tedious and taxing. People say shopping is retail therapy, but I need therapy after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/i-m-paranoid-about-shopping-i-get-irritable-i-find-it-tedious-and/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) > [No wonder they call shopping 'retail therapy,' as any girl will tell you how it just takes away all the stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riya-sen/no-wonder-they-call-shopping-retail-therapy-as-any-girl-will-tell-you/) [Riya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riya-sen/) > [That's a lot more legitimate than the retail therapy I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/that-s-a-lot-more-legitimate-than-the-retail-therapy-i-do/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [If you wrote a crummy line or maybe didn't sing to the best of your ability, there's layers of 10 different instruments all working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/if-you-wrote-a-crummy-line-or-maybe-didn-t-sing-to-the-best-of-your/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [In 1999, Hoffmann-LaRoche paid a $500 million criminal fine for leading a worldwide conspiracy to fix prices for certain vitamins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/in-1999-hoffmann-laroche-paid-a-500-million-criminal-fine-for-leading/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [“You couldn't ever really fix a sad story. You could only make another. And another. And another, until you found the right one at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-couldn-t-ever-really-fix-a-sad-story-you-could-only-make-another/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [There's always something to fix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-moraes/there-s-always-something-to-fix/) [Marlon Moraes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-moraes/) > [Everest is how it is right now. We have to fix ropes up there; we have the commercial expeditions. If you don't like that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ueli-steck/everest-is-how-it-is-right-now-we-have-to-fix-ropes-up-there-we-have/) [Ueli Steck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ueli-steck/) > [No number of repairs will be able to fix Obamacare. The website is the least of Americans' worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/no-number-of-repairs-will-be-able-to-fix-obamacare-the-website-is-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [In a play, you only get one chance, and you have to get it perfect. In a film, you can change and fix it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-hayward/in-a-play-you-only-get-one-chance-and-you-have-to-get-it-perfect-in-a/) [Kara Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-hayward/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [You don't want to fix things that aren't broken, so that kind of stops you from make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/you-don-t-want-to-fix-things-that-aren-t-broken-so-that-kind-of-stops/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) ## More by Mary Kay Andrews > [“Savannah gray bricks”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/savannah-gray-bricks/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [“I can’t wrangle bees. I’m terrified of stinging insects. Literally. I break out in hives.” “Hives! That’s adorbs, right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/i-can-t-wrangle-bees-i-m-terrified-of-stinging-insects-literally-i/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [“A dowdy, depressed dwarf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/a-dowdy-depressed-dwarf/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [“I went to college at Florida State, which is where I got my interior design degree, and after college, I moved down to Miami.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/i-went-to-college-at-florida-state-which-is-where-i-got-my-interior/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [“she felt the past come rushing back with a ferocity that nearly knocked her down. And it struck her, this was not just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/she-felt-the-past-come-rushing-back-with-a-ferocity-that-nearly/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [As soon as I started reading, I found myself drawn to fictional character's homes as much as I was to the characters themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/as-soon-as-i-started-reading-i-found-myself-drawn-to-fictional/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [“She’s got the face of an angel and the soul of a pit bull–piranha hybrid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/she-s-got-the-face-of-an-angel-and-the-soul-of-a-pit-bull-piranha/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [“Don’t never depend on somebody else to take care of you, sugar. Trust in the Lord, and then you just take care of yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/don-t-never-depend-on-somebody-else-to-take-care-of-you-sugar-trust/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [“Whole new level of bullshit, more like,” CeeJay said. “What a waste of a penis that guy is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/whole-new-level-of-bullshit-more-like-ceejay-said-what-a-waste-of-a/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [I guess because I'm a washed-up journalist, I always do a lot of research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/i-guess-because-i-m-a-washed-up-journalist-i-always-do-a-lot-of/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [“Losing a parent, I guess it makes you realize none of us is gonna be immortal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/losing-a-parent-i-guess-it-makes-you-realize-none-of-us-is-gonna-be/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [“The pay was crap. My boss was an idiot. And the final straw was that she wanted me to demonstrate a colon cleanse. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/the-pay-was-crap-my-boss-was-an-idiot-and-the-final-straw-was-that/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [The story of my holiday decorating is if Ralph Lauren was trapped in a 1950s Woolworth, this is what it would look like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/the-story-of-my-holiday-decorating-is-if-ralph-lauren-was-trapped-in/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [“Greer’s eyes darted back and forth on the road, always vigilant for bears. Or any other mammal that might wander onto the asphalt. She’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/greer-s-eyes-darted-back-and-forth-on-the-road-always-vigilant-for/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > [I'm house obsessed, a house voyeur. Always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/i-m-house-obsessed-a-house-voyeur-always-have-been/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) [Explore all 76 Mary Kay Andrews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Unfortunately, we all go through bad phases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushmita-sen/unfortunately-we-all-go-through-bad-phases/) [Sushmita Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushmita-sen/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I listen to heavy metal thanks to my son. When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My protagonists have problems that a new pair of shoes won't solve. 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