Thrifting

As I took my 18 year old and her friend to a couple of thrift stores then to a vintage shop, I suddenly realized that they both had actually learned the ‘art’ of a more diverse sense of self.  As someone who has lived a lifestyle of having to ‘prioritize’ and/or ‘stretch’ what income available to provide for my family, it meant that the luxury of Brand names, and specialty super stores were just not an option at times. The experience of easier choices (according to what the season, colour and size available) was not a ‘regular’ thing to do.

My children have always been provided for, but their popularity was never based on having the latest, biggest or best of any ‘thing’ that they owned throughout their childhood, or their youth.

As I watched them pick up items according to the fabric, style, and colours of the items, laughing along the way as they imagined the various places that some of the people and places they could have been worn before, then blend in where they would be wearing them,  I appreciated their depth, and diversity of thought.

My daughter has mentioned that there would be some kids that would ‘snub’ this possibility from their own lifestyle. I asked her how she felt about that? She voiced a concern for the environment, and has hope that one day, other people will see the benefits of recycling and repurposing . I like the richness in her thoughts, sometimes they can be priceless …

Heather Ann Jarman 2017