Do you have something in your home that is beautiful, useful, and makes you feel bad? Maybe it brings back a bad memory, or maybe it came into your life under bad circumstances. Whatever the situation, it’s time to consider making peace with that item and/or getting rid of it.
I have one such an item. It is this pretty white bowl. It was one of the first really nice things I bought for my apartment in Chicago.
It didn’t come from Target, the Dollar Store, or even Ikea. It came from the old Marshall Field’s in downtown Chicago. I love Marshall Fields (and it has been taken over by Macy’s, so I’m loving the memory of it), and I love this bowl.
Anyway, I bought the bowl because I was supposed to bring a dish to share to a Rose Bowl party. I made guacamole, put it in this bowl, and felt very Martha Stewart-ish.
I went to the party and had a nice time. Brought the bowl home and used it as a fruit bowl in my tiny basement apartment, which I affectionately referred to as “The Cave.”
A few months later, I learned that the host of this party had done probably done something really terrible to my best friend a few years ago. Unfortunately, my best friend is no longer with us, and I’m unable to ask her about it.
Now I look at the bowl, and I feel guilty. Like I wasn’t loyal to my best friend, who I miss so much. It’s clear that, although I adore the bowl, and it represents a fun, happy time in my life, it’s time for it to go.
If my best friend were here to tell me what to do with the bowl, she would certainly advise getting rid of it.
But how? Should I sell it? Should I smash it to smithereens along with the icky, guilty feelings? Should I pass it down to a friend?
While all of the options above would be good for other items, I want to give this pretty bowl another chance. There’s probably another girl out there who is looking for a pretty bowl for her tiny apartment.
After all, it’s a great bowl. It’s me that’s making it an icky-feeling bowl.
So, I’ve decided to donate it. Although I could probably make a few bucks by selling it, it just feels better to send it out into the world for a fresh start. And maybe, just maybe, some of this good karma will sprinkle down and help us find out what really happened to my best friend.
It can’t hurt, right?
Do you have any items in your home that are beautiful, useful, and make you feel guilty? Share with us in the comments!
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