Thrifting is my Therapy

I love a good thrift store. I love a bad thrift store too. It’s the thrill of the hunt and that moment you find treasure. Even if you don’t find any treasure there is always potential. Thrifting is an optimistic endeavor and maybe that is part of why I find it therapeutic.

When I’m having a bad day I will go to the Goodwill around the corner from where I live and troll through the racks. There is something mindless and yet engaging about flipping through racks of clothes. It shuts my brain off while still keeping me involved in the world around me. Somehow the worries of the day fade a bit and sometimes manage to solve themselves while I am ignoring them. My stress levels fall and life seems just a bit easier.

My whole family knows I find thrifting soothing. They will even suggest I go to Goodwill if I am particularly grumpy. And, at thrifting prices, it is cheaper than actual therapy.

I usually thrift alone these days but I used to go regularly with my aunt when I still lived in Connecticut. I miss that. It was a whole different kind of therapy. We laughed a lot, chatted like mad, and set the world to rights. Everyone needs a favorite aunt to make the world a better place. We still thrift together when I visit home but it has been over a year since I have been back and that is way too long.

My daughter goes thrifting with me from time to time. That is a whole other experience. It is a lot of fun but not quite as soothing. That is partially because she declares things to be vintage that I used to wear back when I was her age—the nerve of the girl.

I haven’t been able to thrift in ages because I had foot surgery back in May and my mobility has been severely limited. A week or so ago I went to see the surgeon for the final time and I popped in a Goodwill nearby by way of celebration. My foot still isn’t up to much walking so it was an extremely short excursion but I struck gold. Do you see that bag in the photo? It is made by the Cambridge Satchel Company. I have wanted one for ages but they cost about $250 and I am not going to do that. Well, that red bag was the absolute first thing I saw when I walked into the store. It looks like it has never been used and it cost me a whopping $8. I call that a win. It does have someone else’s initials on it but I can either ignore that or change my name. The blazer is vintage and made in Ireland. The book is about a man who buys property in the Connecticut countryside which is a lovely reminder of home. I also bought a vintage floral skirt but it didn’t coordinate with the photo.

Life is rough. A good (or bad) thrift store can make it a little better. Thrifting is simply good therapy.

Do you like to thrift? What is your best find ever?