A few months ago while thrifting I stumbled upon a vintage coach purse. I could tell it had been well loved by the fading of the black leather. I picked it up and was amazed at the weight of this empty purse. After a few minutes of debating the purchase I decided $7.25 for a vintage designer purse was too good a deal to pass up. At home I googled the number on the inside and found out that the same exact purse in better condition was going for $900 dollars online! To say I was shocked is an understatement. My mom asked if I was going to try to sell it. I said no. The beauty and excitement of finding such a treasure for me lies in the knowledge that this item has been around most likely longer than I have and has lived a multitude of lives. The leather is soft and worn and slightly faded on the corners and the brass detailing has tarnished with age. I can tell this purse was well loved by its previous owner/owners.

Finding this purse reminded me how much I love to see things that are worn out. I love to see a staircase that has dips in each step from thousands of trips up and down. I love to see a worn out part of your wood floor where your dog has slept for the last ten years. I love to see a book that is hanging on by a thread because of all the times its cover has been opened. I know some people like to do everything they can to not “wreck” an item and there is some importance in taking care of what you have but don’t let that stop you from wearing things out. If your favorite shirt is getting a hole in the armpit, although it may be disappointing when it is no longer wearable, it will be a forever sign that you cherished the shirt for as long as you were able. And who knows maybe you can cut the sleeves off and turn it into a tank top and continue to wear it for another twenty years.

Things are meant to be used. Love them, care for them but don’t forget to allow yourself to use them. Someday, decades maybe even centuries from now, someone is going to discover an item of yours and wonder about its’ previous owner. Wouldn’t it be cool if they noticed how well loved your belongings were by how worn out they had become?