The Value Of Things

Let me tell you what I learned this Sunday. I was on a street market with my partner and we saw a regular painting. It had a value of 2 euro. It showed three camels that were guided towards an oasis by a nomad dressed in blue. The seller laughed with the price and the painting. She considered it as trash. She even told us that she would never hang it on her walls herself. That was that. We loved the colors very much, but we did not see a place for the painting in our own house. We continued our path. On the other end of the street was a lady who was into helping people in Africa. Objects and pictures demonstrated that somewhere far away people were doing something meaningful together. The lady was dressed in clothing that referred to nomads. There were camels on the lady's pictures, nomads too.

It was suddenly clear to us that the painting and the lady had to be united. We decided to buy the painting and offer it as a gift to the lady. Not knowing if she would be happy with our spontaneous act. So we went to the lady with the painting and a smile on our faces. We told the lady that we thought that the painting belonged to her. She saw the topic and accepted the painting with a huge thank you in her eyes. She told us that the painting would be transported to the village in Africa and that the nomads would all come to see with their own eyes how special that painting was. Priceless art. The painting turned into a royal treasure. Because it was in the right hands. Of someone who saw the true value of the painting.

We got a present ourselves. The lady told us her life story and what she experienced in her private and professional life. It reflected the transformation of the painting from trash to treasure. In her own life the lady was not appreciated by her superiors and lost all self-worth. She ended up being very ill. She almost could not walk anymore and developed a chronic illness due to the high amount of stress. This was sad to hear. But then something wonderful happened. She met a nomad by coincidence. Through this meeting she learned more about their life and their difficulties. She regained confidence in herself and found her value back by helping the nomads to create a healthier and wealthier lifestyle. Step by step. In fact she is now the leading woman who steers the future of these nomads into the right direction. Today she is happy that she can walk again.

Everything and everyone carries gold in their essence. It really matters in which environment we are to end up as trash or treasure. To feel needed, loved, respected and appreciated can really make all the difference. There is a place for everything and everyone. A place that underlines our value. If you have not found it yet, keep on looking. The universe has foreseen a place called paradise for the ones, who believe in themselves. I have learned that there are diverse ways to look at things and people. Life is priceless as well. In every way. When the pieces of the puzzle fall together, we can move mountains. Like only we can. The lady we met, is truly happy. She proved to herself and others that she is worthy. That is why she is able to give and receive. In the most humble way. A leader. With a heart of gold.

By Liesbeth Leysen