14 May Community Yard Sale or Yard Sale Community?
Early Saturday morning, I opened the blinds to see our neighborhood filled with drivers looking for parking places. The usually quiet street was buzzing with excitement. People walked from house to house while sounds of conversation filled the air.
The time of year for clearing out closets and garages has arrived. Community Yard Sale signs are sprouting up like new blades of green grass. Posters of all sizes and shapes alerting everyone passing by to the event.
“Books, Antiques, Clothing, Dishes, Toys and More” was written in permanent marker on signs attached to poles and trees. Some posters simply stated “Yard Sale” while others welcomed visitors with “Fill A Bag for $5.00”. Yet another sign had a huge arrow pointing the way to the sales.
Children walking with parents and grandparents. Babies in strollers being pushed by their Mama. Men who already made purchases of fishing rods, tackle boxes and outdoor equipment headed for their cars. Pickup trucks were being filled with bed frames, bookcases and shelving units. A few winter coats were sold, too.
I stepped outside and listened. Although the signs led people to a “Community Yard Sale”, the area gave me the feeling of a “Yard Sale Community”. Friends and strangers were brought together by the yard sale event. There were more people walking through the neighborhood than usual. This gave me the feeling of “community”.
People paused to look at items. While checking each table or display, conversations between friends and strangers started.
“Wow, there sure are a lot of people out today. Must be the good weather and the great sales.” One woman stated.
“Yes, I’m looking for back to school clothes for the fall.” A Mom with elementary school children shared.
“I’m hoping to find some good books to read. My husband wants fishing supplies.” A lady wearing a beautiful straw hat with pink flowers spoke.
With each conversation, an interaction was started that may have never occurred if not for the “Community Yard Sale”. Throughout the morning and into the afternoon, I paused and listened as new friendships were formed and old friendships renewed.
We were not just a community having a yard sale that day. We were a “Yard Sale Community” and enjoying the blessings of conversation and good sales. This neighborhood would not be known only as the place for sales. This neighborhood will be known for “community” and friendliness.
Have you chatted with a neighbor lately? Have you met a knew neighbor? Share your experience. Did you meet someone new at a yard sale?
Enjoy a blessed day,
Mimi
Diane Buie
Posted at 18:01h, 14 MayWhat a great post today! Your words make me reflect on the value of relationships and how they can impact us for the better. 🙂 Keep writing!
Melissa Henderson
Posted at 18:13h, 14 MayThank you Diane. We can show God’s love in any situation, even at yard sales. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Jill Weatherholt
Posted at 20:52h, 14 MayWonderful post, Melissa! I love that your community is so communal. Sadly, when our neighborhood has a community wide sale, people are racing from house to house in cars and trucks. I think most are outside of our neighborhood.
Melissa Henderson
Posted at 21:25h, 14 MayThank you Jill. I was pleasantly surprised at all the friendliness of the people. 🙂 Have a blessed week dear friend.
Cathe
Posted at 22:17h, 14 MayIt sounds like a beautiful day of community!
mimionlife
Posted at 13:57h, 15 MayTruly was a beautiful sight to see everyone chatting and enjoying the day. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Carol
Posted at 22:21h, 14 MayYour message brought back memories of the small town I used to live in. One stop light and one drug store. A wonderful town with a wonderful community spirit. Thanks for the memories.
Melissa Henderson
Posted at 23:35h, 14 MayI love small towns. 🙂 Thank you for reading and commenting. Have a wonderful week!
D.j. May Hejtmanek
Posted at 23:39h, 14 MaySuch a great reminder of our daily need for each other. Thank you Melissa!
Melissa Henderson
Posted at 00:07h, 15 MayI enjoyed watching friends and strangers chatting and sharing smiles. 🙂 Have a blessed week!
Gail Johnson
Posted at 23:51h, 14 MaySounds like fun, Melissa!
Melissa Henderson
Posted at 00:08h, 15 MayLots of fun! I enjoy people watching. You never know when a blog post will develop from watching my surroundings. haha! Have a blessed week!
Gail Johnson
Posted at 00:11h, 15 MaySame to you, dear friend!
Yvonne
Posted at 01:56h, 15 MayMy mom loved garage sales. Thanks for the post that reminded me of her.
mimionlife
Posted at 13:34h, 15 MayThank you for sharing that your mom loved garage sales. I bet she found some good bargains. Have a wonderful day! 🙂
Karen
Posted at 03:21h, 15 MayYour neighborhood sounds wonderful, Mimi. There’s nothing like a good community sale to bring out the best in people–almost like a party! Another way the Lord blesses us in our relationships with others. Hugs and blessings! xoxo
mimionlife
Posted at 13:35h, 15 MayYes, Karen, I was thinking about how the neighborhood looked like a big party. Laughter and conversation everywhere. He does bless us in our relationships. Amen. Hugs and blessings to you. Have a wonderful day! 🙂
nancyehead
Posted at 12:24h, 15 MayIt’s harder today to build a sense of community in a neighborhood. Here’s a great way to get out and talk with the neighbors!
mimionlife
Posted at 13:37h, 15 MayI agree. A great way to get out and talk with neighbors. I always enjoy visiting with neighbors whether I have seen them recently or not in a while. I love “catching up” with friends. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Lisa Q
Posted at 13:59h, 15 MayYard sales remind me of what the ancients used to do in their marketplaces. I mean, way back then they didn’t have shopping malls and stores like we do today! So, I think yard sales are, in some way, an ancient tradition that definitely helps cultivate community.
mimionlife
Posted at 14:15h, 15 MayWhat a great perspective! Yes, even today there are Farmer’s Markets in our area. My husband and I enjoy walking through the markets and seeing all the produce and homemade items. Have a blessed day! 🙂
dscales24
Posted at 15:57h, 16 MayI love this, Mimi! What great perspective it shows!
mimionlife
Posted at 16:30h, 16 MayThank you for reading and commenting. Community can be found in many places, even at yard sales. Have a blessed day!
June Foster
Posted at 17:32h, 16 MayIt’s a great way for neighbors to meet each other when they ordinarily wouldn’t be coming out of the house.
mimionlife
Posted at 20:30h, 16 MayI agree. I met people I have never seen. 🙂 Have a blessed day dear friend!
Jeanne Takenaka
Posted at 17:59h, 16 MaySuch a great post, Melissa. The house just to our north has been occupied by at least five different families in the eleven years we’ve lived in our home. The latest family are a mom, dad, baby, and mom’s mom. We’ve talked with them a little. And there are a few others I chat with on occasion. It’s so easy to keep to ourselves in this busy day and age. I’m trying to be more intentional about NOT keeping to myslef.
I love that your yard sale day really encouraged community. That’s a gift!
mimionlife
Posted at 20:31h, 16 MayI am glad our neighborhood participates in yard sales. I chatted with folks I didn’t know. Great way to make new friends and learn about people. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Emily Saxe | To Unearth
Posted at 20:44h, 16 MayHow fun! My husband and I are moving soon to a street with great community. I’m excited for these kinds of days!
mimionlife
Posted at 14:42h, 17 MayWonderful to learn you and your husband will be moving to a great community. I enjoy visiting with people and getting to know their stories. 🙂 Have a blessed day!
Janet from FL
Posted at 22:10h, 16 MayI used to live in a neighborhood that had an annual community yard sale. It was always a hard decision, should I sell my stuff? Or walk around and find bargains? I enjoyed the bargain hunting most of the time, with 2 young kids always needing something. It was fun. Now I don’t need to buy yard sale stuff, as we age, we need less stuff. Thanks for the walk down memory yard sales!
mimionlife
Posted at 14:43h, 17 MayJanet, I know what you mean. I have started getting rid of “stuff”. I didn’t participate in the actual yard sale this time. But, I am clearing out closets. The older I get, the less I need. haha! Have a blessed day!
ordinarilyextraordinarymom
Posted at 22:53h, 16 MaySuch a wonderful image comes to mind. I used to go from yard sale to yard sale with my mom to see what we could find. There is such a sense of community when you attend a large yard sale. Thanks for painting this beautiful picture and bringing back these memories. I do not see them around as much but maybe I will keep my eyes open as the weekend is fast approaching.
mimionlife
Posted at 14:44h, 17 MayI truly enjoyed seeing people visiting and hearing laughter from kids and adults. For a few hours, life slowed and people took time to greet each other with kindness. Have a blessed week! 🙂
Jessica Brodie
Posted at 00:55h, 17 MayIt’s wonderful to see a neighborhood come together like this!! How fun.
mimionlife
Posted at 14:45h, 17 MayYes, the morning was filled with visiting, laughter and creating new friendships and renewing old friendships. A wonderful time! Have a blessed day! 🙂
karentfriday
Posted at 19:22h, 17 MayYes, Melissa! A yard sale community. Nothing like the neighborhood yard sale to bring neighbors together with a sense of community through conversations and sales.
mimionlife
Posted at 20:10h, 17 MayYes. I will miss seeing everyone tomorrow morning. The neighborhood is quiet right now. I look forward to the next yard sale. 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!
Melinda Viergever Inman
Posted at 16:28h, 18 MayI’m glad your Community Yard Sale turned your community into a Yard Sale Community of talkers and those who interact with those who come among you for bargains. That sounds like a fun weekend!
Melissa Henderson
Posted at 20:16h, 18 MayYes, a very fun weekend. 🙂 Nice to meet people and chat. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Invisibly Me
Posted at 19:53h, 20 MayFill a bag for $5? I’m there! 😉
I love the sound of this, of bringing together neighbours, family, friends and strangers. I always think it a shame this sort of yard-sale ‘culture’, for lack of a better expression, doesn’t happen in the UK. Our sense of community is pretty minimal in most places, so I love that your neighbourhood celebrates it and is so welcoming & friendly 🙂
Caz xx
mimionlife
Posted at 21:24h, 20 MayThere was a wonderful excitement in the air that morning. 🙂 I enjoyed seeing everyone visiting and pausing to chat. Have a blessed week! 🙂
Melissa McLaughlin
Posted at 21:32h, 20 MayWhat a wonderful day in your neighborhood! We have a yard sale in our neighborhood that brings about that same community spirit. It really is a fun time to share with those nearby. The only other thing that draws us together like this is a big snowstorm. I would much rather a yard sale!
mimionlife
Posted at 21:01h, 21 MayHaha! Yes, I prefer a yard sale over a snow storm. We moved from VA to SC in 2017 and now, we have to learn about hurricanes. The yard sale was fun. Have a blessed week! 🙂
Lily Pierce
Posted at 16:02h, 21 MayThat sounds nice! We don’t have yard sales in my neighborhood; since we live on a golf course, the rules can be a bit strict. However, I think its cool that drivers and walkers/people walking their dogs always smile and wave at each other. It’s so expected that I feel miffed if I wave at a walker as I drive by and they don’t wave back, ha! Just one reason I love living in the South. 🙂
mimionlife
Posted at 21:02h, 21 MayLiving in the South is great. We moved from VA to SC in 2017, to be near son, daughter-in-love and first grand baby. We have been blessed with great neighborhoods in both states. 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
Lynn J Simpson
Posted at 14:06h, 22 MayI do need to be more friendly in my own neighbourhood! I open my house to friends and church community who live outside my neighbourhood, but tend just to wave at the those that live in my community and not engage in conversation. I love the vivid details you shared here. It could be an opening scene for contemporary women’s novel!
Melissa Henderson
Posted at 14:19h, 22 MayThank you Lynn. Have a wonderful and blessed day! 🙂
J.D. Wininger
Posted at 10:00h, 02 JuneWhat a great post Ms. Melissa! Community is where we find it; and when we don’t find it, we should endeavor to make one. Normally an introvert, I’m the old guy in the checkout line at Wal-Mart that loves to make conversation with the other folks in line. It’s amazing the blessings (you give and receive) when we simply interact with the world around us.
mimionlife
Posted at 13:00h, 02 JuneAmen. God provides many ways for us to interact with each other. We never know when our words and actions will bring someone closer to Him. Have a blessed day!