Foundations

Posted on by Wynne Leon

The feeling that came from meditation this past Saturday morning was really interesting. It was a feeling of deep gratitude for things. Not materialism but history.

I was sitting on a wool area rug that I bought when I purchased my first house 25 years ago. Macy’s used to have this great sale in November. If you bought items in their home furnishings department, they’d give you these bonus dollars that you could spend in the three or four days after Thanksgiving.

So I bought my first mattress set there and got this carpet for “free.” The sales person said it was a hundred-year rug that would last that long, perhaps more. I have silk rugs that I bought in Nepal when I trekked to Everest base camp that I treasure more. But this wool rug has been foundational in my homes for 25 years.

I was so proud that I could buy my first house. I’d saved up my down payment and my parents had generously given me $10,000 to help with costs. I had just turned 30 years old and I remember wondering if I should wait for a man in my life to buy a house. I’d had plenty of boyfriends but none of them had felt right for the long term.

I suppose climbing had changed me. I’d grown more confident in my own ability to reach goals. When I started thinking about buying a house, the guy I was dating who had not yet established a career and had no money, handed me a list of neighborhoods that he wanted to live in. I decided I didn’t need to wait for the right man, broke up with the guy, and bought a house on my own.

And this wool rug. I’ve done a lot of stretching and yoga on this carpet. And playing with dogs and kids. I’ve laid flat on this carpet when I’ve been low and sitting to meditate was too much effort. I’ve jumped from lying to standing when full of energy.

What if things store all this energy? Maybe that’s a bit of what I was feeling Saturday morning. Independence, pride, fun, tears, heartbreak, comfort, wonder, and a lot of laughter all woven into a tight weave that’s been foundational for me.

Funny. This post started as a feeling and ended up as a story told from my rug’s point of view. If only our “things” could talk. Well, maybe they can.

43 thoughts on “Foundations”

  1. If your rug starts talking, my guess is that he will dictate your history on the way to a best seller. Then, reflecting on what he has revealed, it might be time to move to another country or change your name, Wynne. I think anyone’s rug might produce the same result for his owner!

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  3. Oddly enough I’ve been musing on a rug in my life, too. I like your conclusion. It’s all about being grounded on something, letting energy overtake you, listening to the things.

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    1. Well, you’ve made my day, Ally. Any time I’m thinking about the same things as you, I feel much more clever! I couldn’t agree more with your summary – grounded, feel the energy and listen!

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  4. The things in our home also possess so much history and stories and you’re right, it would be a marvel if they could talk and share the stories they have seen too.

    Buying your first home is a big deal, especially nowadays, and I love that the rug anchors so many happy memories and daily rituals for you.

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  5. It’s amazing the history and stories behind some of our material things. It is the reason we become attached to them. They remind us of our trials and triumphs. And therefore they do hold that energy. It’s not something science can yet explain, but we feel it. You felt it when you meditated on it and it offered one of the most powerful feelings, gratitude. How beautiful!
    Love this story Wynne.

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  6. This is a wonderful story Wynne. It makes me want to plan future moments with some of the items in my home. I’d love to know what they think about our life. I think my Spathiphyllum will be first on the list. She’s seen a lot 🙂

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  7. That was a wise choice with a wool rug. My mother-in-law had one that she’d “beat” from time to time. When she died, it only had one wear spot. It was probably over 60 years old. Hopefully, you’ll have yours for at least another 25 years! 🙂

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    1. That’s so funny what you say about beating the rug. When I bought the carpets I have from Nepal, the seller told me that’s all they needed to stay fresh. Love this memory from your MIL, Nancy. Thank you!

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  9. I’m no physicist, but I think about this a lot:

    E = mc2

    “On the most basic level, the equation says that energy and mass (matter) are interchangeable; they are different forms of the same thing.”

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    2. In his original video explaining this theorem, Einstein himself uses the words “and vice versa,” meaning the equation does indeed move both ways.

      It’s said that every word spoken and sound made within a room is still in its walls ~ if we had the technology we could get them out again.

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  12. I have some things in my home I wouldn’t give up for anything because of their history. The rug in my living room might go when my cats do, however. They’ve pretty much destroyed it 😊

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  13. Beautiful, Wynne! How cool must it be to look back photos across those 25 years and see the same rug features across the ages?

    My parents’ home is filled with century-old heirlooms, many of which have associated stories – mine, my parents’, my grandparents’, etc. I bet, Miss O and Mr. D will also, one day, look back on special memories playing on the centerpiece rug. 😊

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    1. Oh, Erin, your comment makes me think of a picture of my niece playing on the rug right after I got it. She must have been about 2 and now she’s almost 27. Thank you for prompting that memory!

      Love that your parents’ home has talking objects too. 🙂 ❤

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  14. Lovely post. You got me with this line: “Independence, pride, fun, tears, heartbreak, comfort, wonder, and a lot of laughter all woven into a tight weave that’s been foundational for me.” I’m so glad you broke up with the guy who was choosing neighborhoods.

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  15. Ah, yes. Lots of feelings rolled up this treasure. I’ve thought of the same concept when I’ve found some magical place in nature and wonder how many, if any, have seen what I’m seeing at that moment.

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  16. Okay, you’ve just described why I try to meditate. My mind usually floats around a million different places, but I love where yours took you. First, I found it interesting that you probably don’t have the mattress set yet (maybe you do), but you definitely still have the free carpet. Some of the best things in life really are free. At least the great energy from the carpet has definitely been free. Beautiful piece Wynne.

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    1. So many great observations to love about your comment, Brian. Yes, the best things in life are free. What a great connection! The energy for sure has been free. So good, my friend!! ❤

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  18. This is so glorious, – “Independence, pride, fun, tears, heartbreak, comfort, wonder, and a lot of laughter all woven into a tight weave that’s been foundational for me.”!!😊

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