Some of the most meaningful things we own can often be ones we never set out to collect.
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From my own experience, initially they showed up without fanfare and along the way became irreplaceable because of the memories and meaning they carry.
My home is a perfect reflection of that. Every room holds treasures that tell a story, and my office is where many of my favorites live. It’s not a museum by any stretch, but it’s a place that feels completely and authentically mine.
On the wall to the left of my laptop hangs a small personal gallery that makes me smile every single day. Two sisters who call me Aunt Cheryl each contributed a piece of artwork that perfectly captures their individual personalities.
A “Think Big” button purchased in a New York City shop at least 40 years ago has been a quiet and constant reminder to keep reaching.
A dear friend gave me a beautiful 3D butterfly card that prompts me to spread my wings whenever I need that nudge, and a collection of one-of-a-kind glittery magic wands adds just the right touch of whimsy.
A wooden sign bearing one of my favorite words, “imagine,” keeps company with a souvenir version of my personalized license plate, a nod to the days when California plates were blue with yellow lettering.
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None of these things carries much monetary value, yet collectively they are absolutely priceless.
One of my most unusual treasures is a small orange plastic beach shovel that sits beside an artist’s rendering of the ocean view overlooking Crystal Cove State Park in north Laguna Beach. For the last 10 months of the park’s existence as a mobile home enclave, I was lucky enough to call it home. The orange shovel stayed with me as a perfect symbol of that one-of-a-kind experience – one I later captured in a legacy story titled “My Life at El Morro Village.”
To anyone passing by, it’s just a child’s beach toy. To me, it is irreplaceable.
Take a look around your own home and observe your quiet collection of moments, people and places that connect you to many of your life experiences. Those treasures that tell fascinating stories often live on windowsills and bookshelves, in kitchen cabinets and bedside tables. They are humble, possibly even a little worn and yet absolutely priceless.
Give yourself a moment to appreciate the things you have chosen to keep close over the years. They are not just objects, they are your story, as personal and one of a kind as you are.
Writer, editor and speak Cheryl Russell is a Laguna Woods Village resident. Contact her at [email protected].
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