Recently my sons took their five-hour driving course, so I did what any parent would do when they are presented with 5 hours of free time...I went antiquing in Vermont with my husband! You are probably quite familiar with the expression "one man's trash is another man's treasure" - those words truly come to life when you are exploring the packed rooms and shelves of antique stores. It was literally a 'walk down memory lane' for us as we went from room-to-room looking at decades-old presidential election memorabilia, 4-feet high stacks of old vinyl records and shelves filled with the blue and white Pyrex dishes that we each remembered from our Grandmother's kitchen.
I was in awe of how well-preserved everything was and the high level of organization that had been used to perfectly display the large quantities of old "stuff". I said to my husband, "this is all quite amazing and it is bringing back many childhood memories, but the only thing I really want isn't here....the Pillsbury Dough Boy!" You see, I have been a Pillsbury fan my whole life, even though I pride myself on baking everything from scratch. I can probably count the times on one hand that I have baked cookie dough that originated in the refrigerator section of the grocery store in the shape of a log, wrapped in blue plastic. So while I am not Pillsbury's best customer, I think I may be one of "Poppin' Fresh's" biggest fans.
If you don't know who or what I am talking about, allow me to explain. The Pillsbury Doughboy, known by the name "Poppin Fresh" to his loyal fans and followers, is the advertising mascot for the Pillsbury Company and appeared in their television commercials and print campaigns for many years, starting around the time I was born. There was something about that little guy that truly made me happy. Perhaps it was his chef's hat and matching scarf, or his ever-present wide grin, or the fact that he had an adorable giggle when his stomach was poked. Maybe I like him so much because I have repeatedly entered my recipes in the Pillsbury Bake-Off...winning this contest is a life-long dream of mine. Long before we had "Top Chef" and "Cupcake Wars", we had Poppin Fresh. I actually owned one of the vinyl Pillsbury Doughboy dolls when I was a kid. It may even have been given to me in 1972, the year it was named Toy of the Year (our toys were so much simpler back then). Somewhere along the way, I lost my figurine of that famous icon. Was he given away? Did I throw him out when I received another rejection letter from the Bake-Off Judges? I will never know the answer. All I know is that I have searched for a replacement so many times over the past 35+ years! My search ended on the 2nd floor of the antique store in Vermont! My husband found Poppin Fresh on the very back of the lowest shelf of a display case and surprised me by buying him for me. The Pillsbury Dough Boy is now back where he belongs...proudly on display in my kitchen where he serves as a reminder of childhood baking days with my sisters, the smell of cinnamon buns and chocolate chip cookies in the oven, and Bake-Off contests that I have yet to win.
Is there an icon from your childhood that is linked to precious memories? If so, do you know where it is? Is there a box marked "My Stuff" in your basement or attic that is holding treasures from years gone by? How would you feel if you were to find something you have been missing and perhaps searching for for years? Something you once discarded could possibly bring you much joy right now. What was once "trash" could now be a "treasure."
I think the same thing could be said about our lives. Have you set aside (or trashed) any of your plans or dreams thinking "this just isn't for me right now"? It could have been because the timing wasn't quite right or something or someone stood in your way, or your confidence level wasn't very high back then. Now could be the time that your trash could be a treasure! You may not even have to go digging through boxes in your attic to find your treasure. It could be as simple as making a phone call to enroll yourself in a college course to finally finish your degree or getting your knitting needles out to complete the afghan that you started to make for your family's couch. Perhaps you have a stack of books that have spent a long time on your "must read" list and now is the time to tackle them, one-by-one. You will uncover treasures in each one.
Each and every one of us has a "Poppin Fresh" story...something that inspires us to think about a forgotten dream and what can be done to achieve it. For me, I have less than one month to submit my recipes for the 49th Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest. It will be my umpteenth time entering the contest but the first one in many years with my trusted friend, my recently rediscovered treasure, by my side! If you find your treasure, your dreams may come true too.
Do you need some inspiration to realize one of your dreams? Let me help you "find your treasure" - Set up a complimentary HEALTH COACHING SESSION with me.