Yesterday my daughter Kate used the word repurpose in a conversation about
decorating her new house. Not being the
decorator type, I hadn’t heard the word used until that moment. My creative juices, it would seem, have led
me toward more literary ventures rather than the esoteric home decorating or
fashion brigade, although plenty of friends and family seem to be clever enough
in that department to make up for my shortcomings. And I have always relied on
their advice.
Curious
about the word, which is believed to have first appeared in 1984, I Googled it
and was astounded at the number of definitions, photos of repurposed items—hundreds
of them—and comments and suggestions about the act of giving new purpose to
something that might otherwise be discarded.
Bathroom tissue rolls molded into art work, old doors turned into
tables, and cans and jars transformed into décor for every room in your house,
the possibilities could yield endless objects of delight.
Several comments, however, were not so
positive: The word is too saccharine,
too superficial. What’s wrong with the
old word, recycle? Why use a new word
when the old one works perfectly? I must
admit, I tended to side with the naysayers.
Yet, after more consideration, I’ve decided to recycle the word repurpose, taking full advantage of its
wonderful metaphoric quality.
Consider
these widely accepted definitions:
·
To use or convert for use in another
format
·
To use for a different purpose on a
long-term basis
·
To alter to make more suited for a
different purpose
·
To give new purpose or life to
Now,
if we take a broader view of the less materialistic and look at more spiritual
prospects in life, the most principled act we can commit to is that of
recognizing the purpose for our lives. You don’t have to look far to find
people struggling to realize who they are and what they want out of a job, a
relationship, a life. Don’t
misunderstand. I’m not suggesting that
there is a quick fix or an overnight metamorphosis. Finding your purpose is a lifelong process
that has to start somewhere at some time. For those who walked down this path
early in life, congratulations and well done are in order. It takes a long time, however, for many
people to reach that consciousness, but it’s never too late to get
started.
And
so I return to this interesting word repurpose.
I
knew I would become a teacher from the age of eight or nine when I held my
first classroom with any of the children in the neighborhood I could corral. I frequently spent time alone composing stories
in my head even though only one teacher ever asked me to put one in
writing. Several teachers, whose
positive influence and mentoring changed the way I saw myself, became my role
models, and I couldn’t wait to go to college and become a teacher myself. At age 21, I taught my first group of students
ninth grade English, but my purpose in life was only just beginning to unfold.
I
suppose I’ve been repurposing my life for years:
When
I was faced with challenges, I tried to convert those difficulties into lessons
that could teach me what I clearly didn’t know.
When
I surveyed the talents God gave me, I tried to use them for growing my purpose
and moving to even greater heights.
When
I found myself in situations that I believed were more difficult than I was
able to cope with, I turned to the solution of changing the way I handled each
one to better suit my purpose.
When
what I was doing to raise my children or succeed in my job wasn’t working, I
changed directions to breathe new life into every endeavor.
I
was not always successful, but more often than not, I accepted change—not always
willingly—and grew in faith.
Repurposing
your life--finding new uses for it—is not as simple as turning a cardboard shoe
box into a contact paper covered carry-all, but without change, subtle or
sublimely painful, it is illogical to think growth can occur.
In
his book Anam Cara, a Book of Celtic Wisdom, John O’Donohue says, “Change,
therefore, need not be threatening; it can in fact bring our lives to
perfection.” He adds that it is “important
to explore how possibility and change remain so faithful to us. They open us to new depths within…This is the
secret way that change and possibility conspire with growth…When you are
faithful to the risk and ambivalence of growth, you are engaging your
life. The soul loves risk.”
I
have found over time that the moment you become open to new depths within, you
begin to gain consciousness. Only
through mindfulness will you begin to recognize how to love and nurture
yourself so that the changes you encounter can lead you to the most harmonious
end.
