Weekly Photo Challenge: Frayed

frayedFrayed.

Could be my nerves. Could be my mind. Could be the bottom of my jeans.

Could be any number of things in my busy life. There’s a lot of negative connotation assigned to the idea of having something frayed. There’s a love seat I have, a leftover from the old living room set that sits in our home office now, used primarily by our dog, Otis. 

I’d be embarrassed to have friends come over and sit there. It’s frayed…mostly abused by 15 years of use by a growing family, and recently repurposed by the dog.

He seems to like it, and if I don’t mind getting dog hair all over me, it’s still a pretty comfortable place to sit. There’s something about feeling comfortable and settled that draws me there to talk with my husband when he’s working at his desk. It’s no surprise the dog likes it. But why?

I think there’s a lot of comfort in old things — not just old things you can pick up in a thrift store, but the old things around the house that weren’t old when you got them — they’ve just aged right alongside you.

Maybe I’m a little frayed, too. My edges are a little rounder, my dark hair has faded into gray, my eyes aren’t as bright as they once were, and now they’re frayed with crow’s feet around the edges.

I’m ok with that. The softer more comfortable me has survived quite a bit, and at least a few people still like to have me around 🙂

 

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Texture

This week, share a texture found in an unexpected place. It could be made of natural materials … or with man-made objects.

Here’s a close-up of the deck that wants to ruin my vacation.

Rough.

Luckily, I was paying attention.

nail

I’m not even mad about it — I mean, it obviously needs some attention, but I’m on the sand, in the water, basking in the sun. I can wear shoes while I sip the mango daiquiris on the deck 🙂

Even though this is a tragedy waiting to happen, seeing this through the lens was pretty thought-provoking. I’ve often loved to see the old damaged remains of things when I travel. I’m drawn to the lightning-struck trees, the chimneys that remain behind after fires. I always stop to study decaying barns in fields.

I don’t know what it is about these broken things — but I can tell you that I see past the wear and abuse and see the beauty. I am grateful for this gift that sometimes surprises me by letting me see beyond the surface.

 

Pin It on Pinterest