Thursday, January 19, 2017

#CarleesTreasures

If you follow me on Instagram, I'm sure you've started noticing a new 'series' I've been sharing. I've been calling it #CarlessTreasures and it is pictures of things I have found while out on my runs/ walks/ workouts.


It started a few months ago when my body began revolting against me (first it was my hip, then my tummy and now it's my back). I knew I had to listen to my body, no matter how much it sucked. I needed to take it easy and let off the gas!


I knew I needed something to look forward to, especially since walking reminded me that I wasn't running and took twice as long. That's around the time I noticed a treasure on the ground and 'knew' what I was going to do. Looking for discarded items was a perfect way to spend my time while I wasn't putting the pedal to the medal and grinding through my workouts. Taking joy in the little things and looking for trinkets brought a smile to my face (and I needed that!).


Let me clarify, not everything is a treasure (even though there is a saying that one man's trash is another man's treasure). I do not pick up edible items. Anything that I would not give to someone else as a gift (whether that is bottle caps, spit out gum, etc) is not coming home as a treasure. I also try and keep things smaller than the size of my palm (mostly because the jar I am storing my goodies in would fill up way too quickly if I had tons of giant finds).


If you've seen the pictures then I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, but it's usually things from buttons to bouncy balls, pennies to pins, lighters to Legos, beads to bracelets, toys to trinkets, and anything in between.


I've had folks ask me what I plan on doing with everything. I'm not 100% sure, but I do know that at the end of the year, I'd like to donate whatever money I've found to a running related charity (a friend mentioned she did this with her #FoundChange and I loved the idea). As far as the other items, I might make them into something (the hubby suggested a shadow box or picture frame), continue to store them, give them away, donate them, who knows?!


And if you've clicked on the hashtag lately, you may have noticed that not all of the hands are mine... Yup, other people are joining in on the fun and it is AMAZING! Although obviously people do not need to add #CarleesTreasures to their pictures (since they are #DougsTreasures, #JanetsTreasures, #NonCarleesTreasures), it is so fun to see the hashtag growing, as well as see what other people find along their journeys. I LOVE THAT IT IS SPREADING!

Um... isn't it AMAZING?! I love seeing what some people see as treasures! 

Some days I don't find anything and some days I end up with a whole hand full, but no matter what, looking for discarded trinkets, misplaced toys or abandoned treasures helps to turn my focus outward, gives me something to look forward to and reminds me to find joy in the journey.


PS Because a lot of people have asked, the treasures currently reside on our counter in a pink mason jar. Why a pink mason jar? BECAUSE I FOUND IT (and shouldn't you keep your found treasures in a found treasure container?!)!


Have you found anything lately? 

1 comment:

Paula said...

I haven't found anything since currently in Wisconsin the ground is covered in snow. Once I get running outside again, I will make it a point to look for treasures. I hope your body will retreat soon. I know it is hard to back off. I currently have a pain in my upper hamstring/back & I have been taking it easy, but miss running like I was doing.