Karla’s Korner: Digging for Treasure

Digging for Treasure…

A treasure is defined as “a concentration of riches, often one which is considered lost or forgotten until it’s rediscovered.” Quite often when we speak of a treasure we refer to material objects such as precious metals and gems often accompanied by a treasure map with “X” marking the spot. In searching for various definitions of the word treasure I stumbled upon a beautiful poem titled “What Is Treasure” (written by T. Lee). In this beautiful poem the writer shares their thoughts on various examples of life’s treasures and their importance on our lives. One of life’s greatest treasures I believe is the relationships we have with others whether it’s family or friends. Each individual relationship we have in our life carries its own unique gift or treasure that must be handled carefully and reverently. Quite often we find ourselves consumed by our life’s obligations forgetting the treasure leaving us feeling empty, unfulfilled and tempted to move onto new relationships seeking new treasures.

Instead of giving up on relationships, whether romantic or platonic when we feel the treasure is lost, it is important that we take the time to nurture and sometimes “dig them up”; tend to them like flowers in a garden and enjoy the beauty they add to our lives. Our treasures (relationships) often get buried under the burdens of life and everyday obligations and it is up to us that we make the effort to dig them up. In a perfect world, there would be no need to “dig” but as we know nothing is perfect; and that’s a good thing.

My husband and I recently slipped away from the busyness of life for a mini-vacation in Myrtle Beach. With nothing more than a little extra cash in our pockets, an over-stuffed suitcase and a cooler we found ourselves re-connecting and enjoying just being together. We decided not to make any concrete plans which allowed us to wander the beach, sip drinks at a little ocean side bar, play, laugh and talk; we talked a lot. Having been married for nearly 26 years we know that marriage is not for the faint at heart. As with any relationship marriage is a bond, a connection and a commitment to another person that requires dedication and a lot of work as does other relationships in our lives. The work is often hard but the reward is sweet.

On our last full day at the beach David and I spent nearly two hours talking and walking along the beach searching for shells. Several of the best shells were the ones we had to bend down and dig out of the wet sand; we had to work for the treasure of the shell. The biggest, prettiest shells were buried deep in the wet sand and took work to retrieve them from the “muck”. Life sometimes gets “mucky” covering up our treasures causing us to neglect, forget and overlook the reason for the treasure we had in the beginning. It’s at those “mucky” times we need to pull out our life shovels and dig up the treasure we’ve allowed to become buried. Much like my grandmother’s old silver that needs polishing to keep its luster our relationships need polishing too. Each week I sit down and write a letter to a dear friend who lives over 400 miles away from me. While we don’t see one another often (it’s been over a year since our last visit) it’s important to us that we stay connected. A letter filled with the ordinary mundane events of my week allows us to stay in touch and is great “fuel” for our weekly phone conversations. Taking time to share our lives through calls and letters keeps the treasure of our friendship from being buried like the shells in the sand.

This week I encourage you to pull out your life shovel and dig up the treasures of your life that have gotten buried under the weight of life. A treasure is sometimes hard to find. It is important that when you find one you hold it near and dear to your heart never letting it go instead nurture it, feed it and watch it grow. Enjoy the hunt….

Peace,
Karla

I think we all need a touch point a place we can go to be inspired. Karla is my children’s teacher, a good friend, and a person with a heart of gold. I hope that her words will inspire you to do more. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with. It is important to listen with your heart and proceed with your eyes open. Enjoy!

Read more Karla’s Korner, also please visit Karla’s Lifetime Moms page and read her articles.

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