My husband and I love to go garage and estate sale shopping on the weekends. We get a thrill from finding insanely good deals and unique items you can’t find elsewhere. A little over a year ago, we stumbled upon an estate sale and were standing in line when a lady came inside and asked if someone could help. Her car was stuck in the mud.
If you know Joe, you know he immediately stepped out of line to see what he could do. While mud was flying, and we were all trying to get creative on how to get her out, I connected with Melissa. She was brand new to town from Chicago and here because she had met a man who she thought might be the one.
I naturally enjoy introducing people to new things and helping them make connections that enrich theirl ives. Being in the position as a publisher of our local magazine, I am well-equipped to send someone in the right direction, or at the very least, get them to a person that can. So, I left my card with her that day, and I remember thinking, “Gosh, I hope she likes it here!”
Fast forward to this spring, and Melissa is still here, now engaged! And, we have kept in touch and connected.
Do you believe that the universe can create crossed paths between two people just at the right time? I do. I believe that’s what is happening with me and Melissa. Lately, I have been very intentional about who I spend time with and who I seek to have in my life. It led me to think more about chosen community and chosen family.
Sometimes, the people who become our family are those we choose for ourselves. These chosen family members are the ones who know our secrets, stand by us through thick and thin, and help us when we’re stuck. They may not be related by blood, but they are related by choice. We can choose to surround ourselves with people who make us feel seen, heard, loved, and create a community that feels like home. So, let’s embrace the power of our chosen families and be open to new relationships that we can cherish the same as we would our biological or adoptive ones.
If all else fails, just go estate sale shopping — you never know what or who you’ll find!
Talk soon,
Missy Creed McFerron, Publisher
(she/her/hers)
