Choose to Upcycle

I like to craft and was doing DIY projects before Youtube was a passing thought in Steve Chen, Chad Hurley or Jawed Karim’s think tank. The dozen boxes of supplies stacked in my office marked “she shed” speak for themselves. No, Sheryl, I don’t have a shed of my own, but I have high hopes for the future. The desire to create is in my genes, Unfortunately, I think the skill to go with it skipped a generation because my projects do not always turn out well. My mom, on the other hand, has been turning fabric scraps into quilts in progress and next Sunday’s church skirts for as long as I can remember. She doesn’t recycle, she UPCYLES and, yes my friend there is a difference. Think about it in terms of re-using versus creating.

Gardeners know the value of composting. Basically they take discarded organic matter, such as rotten fruits and vegetables, and pile them in a common place until a huge mound of degrading matter has turned into smelly, fertilizer gold.  This is recycling in its most basic form: Returning something close to its original state to be used again. Don’t knock it until you try it. I have gained much weight over the years thanks to skillful gardeners who composted to produce the best okra, squash, onions and potatoes around. That’s right people; fry it all in an iron  skillet, put gravy on it and wash it down with a glass of sweet tea. Rachel Ray would be proud of that 30 minute meal!

Upcycling, on the other hand, is the art of reusing an item in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than its original state. Did the television show like Flea Market Flip jump into your head? Last year’s quarantine and the social media trend of upcycling have done wonders for my creativity. I suddenly look at the glass vases stashed under my kitchen sink as potential snowmen. I think twice before throwing out an egg carton or empty coffee canister. Don’t laugh, mom made me this way and Pinterest only encourages me.  Deciding to upcycle my life, on the other hand, was easier said than done.

I was assaulted, abducted and endured 28 hours of torment in 2017 and I knew if I survived my life would never be the same. I did not choose what happened to me, but I could choose how  to live the rest of my life. Should I decide to live as a victim who was used, discarded and fearful? I could settle for  trying to get back to the person I was before the incident, and no one would blame me.  But, what  if I  upcycled?  Maybe I could get counseling and process what happened to me until I could see a way to create something good  from the situation? Eventually, I chose the latter and take steps each day to become a better version of myself.

Followers of Christ believe their value  does not comes from a high profile job, cool car or number of social media followers. I was taught from a young age that my worth to God is priceless and he cares about my life, even when something tragic happens to me. Romans 8:28 reads: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Some days, I cling to that truth to keep going. What keeps you going?

To what truth are you or a friend who went through a tragic event clinging? Are you trying to recycle your life instead of upcycle it? Before you take another step backward or settle for simply surviving one more day, please reach out for help. There are resources on this website and an abundance of people at your local church or shelter waiting to stand with you. You were meant to be more and do more with your life. Choose to be the beautiful quilt in progress, not the compost pile.