Article July 4, 2011 Issue

Our infinite value

By Michele Newport

Double or triple burgers, 62-ounce drinks, warehouse shopping—“The bigger, the better.”

That’s a popular message today, and it’s based on the premise that big size and low price equal value. Celebrity-driven news also often suggests that people can be valued by the amount of media coverage they receive, or the salaries they draw for being famous. These are certainly easy ways to determine value, but are they true? Is value determined by size, volume, price, or celebrity?

I found myself pondering this issue of value one day a few months ago, while sitting at home looking at a small table in our bedroom. My husband and I bought it a few years ago from a store in Maine that sold beautifully crafted, handmade furniture. At the time, we were so excited to see all of the lovely pieces but couldn’t afford more than the very small, round, simply designed table. The wood is rich in color and the quality of the craftsmanship is impeccable; however, we’ve found that its quiet beauty is seldom noticed by visitors. No matter where we’ve placed it in our home, because of its small size and simplicity, guests tend to look right past it.