I originally thought I was going to polish them and give them new life in a piece of jewelry. But instead I decided to keep their years of wear and deep coloring as is. Sometimes the tarnish you pick up in life adds character and for people who care to look beneath the surface they might find a deeper beauty.
It has taken me a long time to get to this point in my life. To stop looking ahead, and try to live in the moment. To stop collecting, and to start thinking about what are the few things I would put in a suitcase and take off traveling. You have to think more carefully when you know you're going to have to carry it.
It isn't an easy thing to let go of the burden you can feel with all the responsibilities of life. They pull at you. And keep you focused to lists, dates and achievements. Not that these things aren't important. But when is it enough?
I took a look at my current key ring and realized that I was carrying around several keys that I no longer use. Why not unburden myself, pull off what I don't use? And create something new, from something old to remind myself to reassess my load from time to time. An old key for a new filter on life.
A wise philosophy, and a beautiful update for a piece of history... known or not.
ReplyDeleteIt really is hard to let go of things. I'm dealing with that right now too. But, I love what you did with the key and at least it's no longer just there, it's become something useful again!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a poignant post - beautifully written! I am afraid to pull out my key ring!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea - beautiful job!
Beautiful post and I love what you did to accent the old key!
ReplyDeleteOoooh fabulous as always! xxxx
ReplyDeleteI agree with Patti - this is such a poignant post and so beautifully written. I am going through a lot of personal stuff right now, and this actually brought tears to my eyes. And, since I love old keys (and your beautiful work!) it really hit home. Thanks so much for this post!! :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work with the key. How wonderful that you can keep it in the family in a useful way. I always struggle with living in the moment but have learned to simplify life more as I grow older. It is amazing how we become wiser!
ReplyDeleteAll you said is wise advise Cynthia. I too have been thinking a lot about purging unused items in my life. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTherese
Letting go is often hard, be it emotional or physical baggage. Our consumer driven society encourages accumulation of excess possessions. I feel the weight of these things, and I have no desire to pass that burden on to someone else when I die. I'm taking steps to rid myself of this physical baggage, but progress comes slowly. Sounds like you are headed in the right direction!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! And I love the beaded accent you added to the old key :)
ReplyDeleteAfter acquiring so much ~ stuff and responsibility ~ the letting go is necessary. Heavy for no reason takes its toll. A deep post and one that has us all pondering what keys we just don't need anymore.
ReplyDeleteThis is so full of truth!
ReplyDeletewow. What a powerful post!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written and I love how you transformed the old key - love the heart shape too :)
ReplyDeleteOld keys do tend to collect, don't they? A beautiful metaphor for so much that we carry with us. Isn't it interesting how we spend so much of the early half of our life collecting, then the second half trying to figure out what is really worth keeping?
ReplyDeleteYou've turned the key into a powerful totem.
Cleaning out collections can be so difficult! For some reason keys, in particular, seem difficult to get rid of. I know we have keys sitting around that went to the previous locks at parents' houses. Totally useless, but they're sitting in a drawer, anyway.
ReplyDeleteSometimes in life we get so caught up that we forget to just live and enjoy the day. I too have looked around and said why do I need all this...I don't worry so much about the dust, the laundry is always behind, there are probably dishes to do....pet hair everywhere...I just walk out the door and spend time with my husband.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reminder to live in the moment and unburden ourselves of the things that can drag us down from our past. Coincidentally, I had quite a collection of keys like this that I beaded around, similar to what you did here. They really resonated with people -- everyone wanted to pick them up, fondle them, imagine what treasures they used to protect.
ReplyDelete