I find it a million times more fulfilling when I get the opportunity to flaunt the things I’ve intentionally curated over time—items that align with who I truly am, not who the world suggests I should be, than items from Amazon/ tik tok shop people prompt for a quick buck.

The pink engraved Bible my hometown church unexpectedly gifted me when I graduated from high school.

The handmade photo album my best friend made me for my birthday, filled with photos of us growing up from middle school into our twenties, each page categorized with funny and sweet captions.

The green tea hand cream I received from my favorite nail salon after reaching a certain number of appointments.

The recycled mason jars I now use as food storage containers.

The loose-leaf tea from a pop-up shop owned by a woman with PCOS who wanted to find a holistic, cost-effective way to alleviate her symptoms.

The blue Cancún keychain wristlet from my first trip with my sister and dad— holding my house keys even though it doesn’t match my neutral aesthetic.

The Patricia Nash handbag I found for an amazing deal when I decided, as a young woman, that it was time to invest in a real handbag instead of relying on fanny packs and crossbody purses from ten years ago.

The custom thermal my best friend made me, with one side featuring a photo of us in matching childhood outfits and the other a photo from our first girls’ trip together while I was in college—finished with a message celebrating our friendship.

The painting I created when my boyfriend said “be ready at 10, we’re going to do something you’ve always wanted to do” and it was a follow along Van Gogh painting class (one of my favorite artists), where we painted my favorite flower (sunflower).

These pieces bring me an exuberant joy (exuberant: filled with lively energy and excitement) whenever I’m asked about them. It’s a joy that never quite appears when someone asks about something I impulsively purchased from TikTok Shop or Amazon. The items everyone owns don’t give me the opportunity to show my personality or what truly matters to me.

With these pieces, I get to share the story of how they came into my life and why they mean something to me. That kind of satisfaction is something fast buying can never provide.