When trash is ultimate treasure
/Hello my loves,
It’s Friday in Newtown, and that means it’s rubbish day. Every Thursday evening, the neighbourhood reverberates with the dull thud of bin wheels clunking trustily to the gutter. Come Friday morning, they’re lined up like sentries awaiting inspection, poised for the arrival of the valiant fellows who pilot the rubbish truck. And come Friday morning, before the arrival of the truck, there's another quiet story that unfolds. An intrepid figure with a cart and bag appears, wheeling around the streets and checking each recycling bin for cans and bottles that can be taken to the depot and exchanged for a little money. There’s actually a few people who do this in our neighbourhood. I’ve consulted them on their requirements, and I collect anything they can use throughout the week, then run it out to them when I hear the flap of the bin lid opening on Friday morning. We share a smile as I hand over the loot, and wish each other well for the week, then beetle on with our respective days.
This morning, I was already out on the street, attempting to siphon petrol from my car*, when I saw a lovely lady doing her rounds on the street that runs past ours. So I dashed inside, grabbed this week’s collection, and clopped up the street in my uggs to hand it to her. And here’s what I saw. Another neighbour, greeting her like a dear friend, wishing her well for the day in the warmest way possible. Yet another neighbour, sweeping her path across the street, singing out, smiling, and sending her best. There was SO much warmth in our little tableau, a gorgeous exchange of pure good wishes, and it just about made my heart explode. I have no idea what the back story of our trusty recyclers is. I imagine it’s probably not the funnest thing in the world to rootle through bins on a cold Friday morning. But the thing that makes me believe in the good of the world is how welcome, seen, valued, and respected this woman is in my neighbourhood. My early morning encounter brought it home to me for the ten-thousandth time that it really is the simplest of things that mean the most. Seeing others, valuing them, helping out if you can. Making a connection, however brief, rather than averting your eyes and moving on. A simple hello, a warm wish for the day, a smile as you pass on the street. They're gifts we can all give, every single day.
As we all strive for whatever it is we’ve pinned our hopes on, let’s not overlook the millions of tiny experiences that really make up our lives. Because the big stuff is fleeting in a way. The house you’ve strived for eventually becomes just the place where you live. A lovely place for sure, and one that hopefully makes you very happy, but the sense of attainment does eventually dull. The spiffy new car in time is just what you drive. The job you really bloody wanted, you’ll probably eventually outgrow. The holiday becomes a blissful memory. And that’s fine. Life is a constant evolution of experiences that help us each to expand and evolve. Nothing stays the same, and if it did you’d probably go mad. But there is one thing that never changes, and that is the power of connection. The power of a small kindness, the power of a smile. The power of four ladies connecting over a crowd of rubbish bins, each walking away with a sparkle in their eyes and warmth in their hearts. An exchange that lasts a moment, but reverberates in your heart all day. That is the stuff life is really made of.
And so my darling, as we slide into another weekend, I wish you much love and joy and connection. I’ll be continuing with my scarf project (I can knit!!! I can do it!!), and celebrating winter solstice. Yes, the darkest night of the year is almost upon us, and as per usual, the wonderful Rebecca Wyldewood is holding a virtual circle to honour this very special and very powerful time of year. She'll be sharing lots of lovely wisdom on how this seasonal juncture relates to our lives, and you can find all the details here. Until next week my loves 💛.
Love, Rachel xxx
* The siphoning thing is a WHOLE other story!
