That penny on the ground

Who has heard the saying “Find a penny, pick it up all day long, you’ll have good luck”?  Kind of a fun little rhyme that is meant to give you a little pick me up.  Nothing harmful or even significant, just something to make you smile and change your outlook on the day when you come face to face with ol’ Abe Lincoln.

I was thinking for a second about that saying and the fact that does not matter the kind of shape that penny is in.  It just must be a penny to bring you good luck, right?  That penny could be brand new, bright, and shiny or it could be 60 years old and showing its age.  Interesting though how that penny whether new or old brings you the same luck with the rhyme or spends the same, does not matter.  I know a penny really can not cover too much spend but you get my point.

Why then do we gravitate away from the older penny?  You are questioning that statement, I feel it, but you know you do.  As a society we like bright, shiny, and new not old, tarnished and we are not sure where it has been.  I mean think about it do you stop and notice the tarnished penny to pick up or do you just keep walking?  If it was a bright shiny new penny you are more likely to see it if we are honest.  Sure, maybe you are not into the old rhyme because you think a penny is not worth it, but you get my point.

My question is why?  Like most things if you take a cleaning cloth to that penny it will shine up and while it may not be new it has a story to tell.  When we are so quick to walk past things because they are not shiny and new, we are highly likely to miss out on some remarkably interesting items or stories.  That is not to say new is not fun or helpful because I know it is, but we also must be on the look out for the interesting things that can teach us.

Keep your eyes open for those vintage pennies or maybe that kind old man at the market where you get your coffee who has one of those military service hats that you are dying to know more about.  Slow down the rush every once in a while, and open your eyes to the full picture of life that surrounds you.  It is likely that you are going to be glad you did.  Shine bright people and if you need a polish to knock of that tarnish grab a cloth and return your inner glow to BRIGHT!  Much Love!

-JMAXX