The thrift shop

Where do you start with a first blog post? At the thrift shop!

Why? Well, a few weeks ago, that's where I bought a beautiful stand with words of wisdom from around the world. It's amazing. Almost as amazing as the thrift shop itself!

Guys, I I loooove thrift shops. They're my first go to when I need something (seriously, the flower pots are dirt cheap, and so are the clothes!), but especially when I don't need anything. When I just want to browse, pick up trinkets and treasures, and take home the cutest items for practically nothing. Until a few years ago, I didn't realize how self-discovering and self-developing that process is. What do I like? What touches my heart? What gives me a boost of joy? What makes my inner child cheer?

Or in the case of clothing: who am I? Which prints, colors, or shapes express who I am to the outside world? Because there is such an incredibly diverse (over)supply of clothes in thrift shops (or at least in “mine”), there is no one particular style to be found, as you might find in other shops. There are so many clothes, from jeans that cost 150 euros new but are sold for 10 euros, to colorful T-shirts from Primark for 2 euros. And this in all shapes, sizes, and colors. For me, this was a really interesting journey of discovery: who am I, really? And how can I express that to others through my clothes?

I now have a nice range of clothes—but not too many, as excess is harmful!—and I can choose my clothes based on my mood. If I feel exuberant and cheerful, I go for that one T-shirt with flowers and a loose bright yellow sweater over it. If I'm feeling more subdued or sad, I'll wear a dark plain T-shirt with a beige turtleneck. Learning to feel which clothes and colors I need on which day was really new to me until a few years ago. Learning to distinguish this has helped me to respect my own needs – and therefore myself – in the here and now. Self-love. The most priceless gift we can give ourselves, and one that can be found in the cheapest store imaginable. Ironic, isn't it?

But anyway, I'm digressing... (See, that's what happens in the thrift shop! I get lost in myself, but in a good way!).

So when I was back at the thrift shop a few weeks ago, searching among the books and trinkets, the answer to the questions “What moves my heart?” and “What makes me happy?” was immediately clear: it was the stand with words of wisdom and sayings. You might think those sayings would be cheesy—and some of them are—but they mainly contain a lot of truth. Reflecting on them is something that helps me grow inwardly. Writing about them, even more so.

These words of wisdom from all corners of the world will be the main focus of this blog. But I also want to include interesting quotes, lyrics, etc. I want to write about my interpretation of them and how I apply them in my own life. The goal is to continue to grow as a person, in the hope that not only I, but also you, will benefit from it. In this way, we can walk together on the path we call ‘life’.

Nathalie