Why do people walk around with no shoes on and then complain when they step on something sharp?

@Callmyname People get themselves into patterns of acting in particular ways just to receive particular treatments by others. These are the workings of codependency. Someone may (even unconsciously) set herself up to be with someone who hurts her, just so she can continue receiving sympathy from others about her situation. She may have learned, at some point in her life, that she can find the intimate connections she craves through that sympathy. So for her, she continues walking around with no shoes on by continuing to be with her abuser, just so she can keep complaining and getting her intimacy needs met by others.

@Callmyname I was trying to explain the metaphor.