I heard this segment on the radio the other day.  An artist decided to treat 2020 like a lost and found box.  I know.  Just stay with me on this.  The idea is that everyone would identify what they lost in 2020 ( could be a job, coworkers, a business etc.) and what they found in 2020 (time with family, solitude, creativity etc). Each person was given a “lost and found” box (remember those from school?) and asked to put items into the box that represented what they lost and found.

I like this idea because it is so easy to see what we lost in 2020 that we lose sight of what we found.  (Although, realistically, the two may not be proportional.) So, I thought I would share somethings that I lost and found in 2020.

Lost

The first half of the year was really tough on my business.  We had a complete shutdown here in New York and the majority of my business is sales through Stone Soup Antiques and through in-person shows like the Country Living Fair.  Having said this, it isn’t just the financial impact, it was also the loss of connection with people, friends, and fellow dealers whom I exchange information and ideas with at shows.  It was an erosion of relationships and missed interactions.   I truly value spending time and talking with other creatives.  They seem to understand me, I seem to understand them, and there is a kinship unlike any other.

Many people lost far more.  Some people lost their jobs.  Some people lost their health. Some people lost a loved one or loved ones. Some people lost their homes.  Relative to what other people lost, I consider myself extremely fortunate.

If I had a lost and found box, the items I would put into it to represent these “losses” are a twenty dollar bill and photos of last years Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, NY.

Found

When you are at home and seldom go out – even to a grocery store – there are many things you discover.  First, I found ways to be creative without having to go out to stores and acquire supplies.  Using what I had on hand and practicing techniques.  I would say that I found “time” but that’s not accurate.  I found time to think, focus and practice creativity.

The other thing I found was technology.  Or more accurately, I more fully embraced technology.  (Although I still have a long ways to go)  I found time to learn my camera. I found time to figure out how to shoot and upload a video to you tube. I found time to learn how to edit short videos. So on and so forth.

I also found that I appreciated those people who are in my life. Even the smallest interaction was not taken for granted.  With our worlds shrinking, I valued those who still orbited in and out of my life on a regular basis. Even the postal carrier. Especially the postal carrier.

All in all this year has taught me to appreciate the small things in life and the people with whom you cross paths with on a semi-regular basis.  Things can change quickly so it’s important to appreciate even the smallest things on a daily basis.

If I had a lost and found box, the items I would put into it to represent the “founds ” are a link to the Sky Lark House website and all the Christmas cards I received this past month.

What about you?  What have you lost and found in 2020? What would you put into a box to represent what you lost and found?  I would love to know.