We never shopped at thrift stores when we were young. It wasn’t in fashion then. And even worse, I think we thought of it as demeaning. And by we, I mean culturally, because frankly, our status in the community was the least of my mom’s worries. 

I’m not sure exactly when it changed. But it has completely flipped. Now it’s cool. Encouraged. Celebrated even. It’s even a verb!  “Look what I got thrifting!” People are making fortunes taking videos of themselves at Goodwill. And it’s not just clothes. Its the same for houses. The world is completely addicted to the show Fixer Upper. Myself included. 

We are able to see things differently. And this is beautiful. That old house is now potential. Potential!  Imagine that! It’s not ugly. It’s paint worthy.

I bought a pair of jeans at the thrift store. We only go there maybe once or twice a year when we visit the US. The clerk remembered us. It felt so good to be remembered. Yes, I loved the jeans. And $7, that’s hard to beat, but to be remembered – to me, that’s just another way of being valued.  I smiled in the car mirror – this smile — Look what I got thrifting!

We can do this for each other you know. Change the way we see things. See others with potential. See them as worthy – maybe even ourselves – no matter what condition we are in.  Beauty. Love. Maybe the greatest gift each of them holds is the ability to change.