@enchanteddesignsbycara Publishing Rights ( 2025)

This artwork “Change In Value ” is based on the story  The Silver Shilling by Han Christian Anderson which was published in 1862.

Oil on Canvas

Ever feel like a dusty old coin, kicked to the curb and forgotten? I did. During a particularly rough patch, when I felt utterly…well, *shilling*-less, my dad shared Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Silver Shilling” with me. Now, Andersen isn’t exactly known for stand-up comedy, (though, imagine if he did!), but this story sparked something profound.

It’s a simple tale: a coin bounces around, encountering different folks, each placing their own value (or lack thereof) upon it. And that’s when it hit me. My worth wasn’t some fixed thing, dependent on my circumstances or what *I* thought I had to offer. It was about *perspective.*

Like that little shilling, I’d been in the “wrong place,” surrounded by people who couldn’t see my potential (or my hilarious jokes!). The story reminded me that even a seemingly “useless” coin could become a treasure, a rare find, simply by being viewed through a different lens.

I have also carry the weight of past words, whispers that chipped away at my self-worth, convincing me I was a burden. Each morning, those echoes return, clouding my vision. Yet, deep down, I know I’m like a misplaced coin, overlooked but still valuable. It’s a struggle to reconcile the negativity with the truth: everyone has something to offer, a unique impact. Even a fleeting smile can brighten someone’s day. Value exists in us all; it’s simply a matter of perspective and how Andersen’s ending, with the shilling displayed in a museum, is bittersweet. But it offers hope: your value doesn’t vanish. It might just be waiting to be rediscovered, appreciated for its unique story.

What about you? Have you ever felt like a “silver shilling” in the rough? What changed your perspective and helped you remember your own value?