Within the last year alone, I’ve stumbled upon a $4,000 piece of art at the Goodwill for $50.
A Givency necklace at the Salvation Army for $3.
A vintage Tod’s bag in mint condition for $1 at a yard sale.
A brand new Capri volcano candle for 50 cents (which my daughter promptly took to college.)
Anthropologie blouses, a gold sequin dress, a new faux cowhide rug, a pair of lamps, and a menagerie of other junk shop goodies I won’t bore you with, have all found their way to my wardrobe, my home, and my treasure-loving heart.
Finding beauty and finery and usefulness in unlikely places is pure joy for me. From the bags of clothes people handed the pastor’s kids after church, to the yard sales I combed in fancy neighborhoods, I’ve been a treasure-hunter since childhood.
People often tell me things like:
“I just don’t have your luck.”
“There’s never anything good when I go.”
“I get overwhelmed. It all looks like junk.”
I get it. A lot of it IS actual junk and I don’t always find anything worthwhile. But I usually find something.
Is there an element of serendipity? Standing at the right place at the right time? Of course.
But it’s more than that. I simply know what to look for. A fabric or print or finish often jumps out at me. I’ve learned to see past the dusty porcelain dolls and old sorority tees, to block out the clutter and behold loveliness.
I “have an eye,” as they say.
But having an eye for beauty and meaning and possibility doesn’t just apply to the local Goodwill. It’s a skill we can all cultivate. If the treasure we seek is a life of love and meaning, how do we block out the junk and sharpen our vision?
Detaching from my phone this week has given me eyes to see the beauty that’s already here, helped me access time and headspace I didn’t know I had, dusted off ideas and hopes that are still alive and well.
When we clear away the clutter in our digital lives, we might just uncover the hidden treasure in our real lives.
……….
Day 4 of a writing challenge with @hopewriters. Today’s prompt is SERENDIPITY. ✨
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