I admit, calling the tree slab table “mine” doesn’t feel quite appropriate. But it holds a lot of value to me, and it sits in my home, so we’re going with it.
The Backstory
My parents have been married for many years. They are approaching 60 years (!) of marriage. As you can imagine, they have gone through many hobbies, both together and on their own. One of their hobbies that they enjoyed together was upcycling furniture. They actually got pretty dang good at it and sold several pieces for charity.
It so happened that while my parents were in the thick of this hobby…and I mean, their basement and garage were filled with old furniture, paints, stains, upholstery, etc…their next door neighbour had to cut down an old tree in his yard. This lovely tree slab was cut from the trunk and given to my Dad, who created this beauty.
There is a crack in it, which I will fill in with whatever you’re supposed to fill it with at some point. But I actually don’t mind it; it’s all part of the charm. I do realize should probably fill it in though, just to protect the table.
How It Became Mine
My Dad gave this creation to my sister several years ago. She has an eye for interior decor, and it looked beautiful in her home. However, she recently got married and moved overseas with her husband, so she had to sell/give away most of her belongings (as they already had everything they needed in their new marital home). Lucky for me, this included the tree slab table, and I was overjoyed to adopt it!
This table has since become my preferred place to settle down in front of on the days I work from home. It has become somewhat of an inanimate companion of mine; for some reason the sight of it warms me up and makes me feel…”home”. I can’t think of a better word to describe it.
Why It Has Become So Valuable To Me
One thing about me is that, like for many others, my mental health is an ongoing and conscious battle. I have had many deep thinks and ponders in front of this table. When I’m dreading the tasks ahead of me, there’s something about having my coffee at this table with the sun shining on my back that just gets me to where I need to be, so I can crawl through my feelings and carry on.
In my post https://hopeanddreams.ca/2023/06/29/6-practical-self-love-steps-you-deserve-to-take/ I mention how making yourself something delicious is such a powerful act of self love. I have consciously began making myself something yummy (and usually healthy) to enjoy at my lovely little table as a start to my day, and in those few minutes, my mind is able to wander to positive places, and reason through difficult thoughts. I truly believe it’s because I am being a friend to myself in that moment…lending my thoughts an ear, feeding myself, listening, and loving.
I created a category just for this, so I can share some of the thoughts I’ve journaled, from my cozy meals at my tree slab table. Hopefully someone, somewhere, finds comfort in what I share here.