Grieving Daughter Finds Note In Fossil Purse While Thrifting
Unexpected Thrift Store Find
Photo of a little girl with her father and a black purse.
TikTok/Abrielle Clausing
On January 13, 2021, Abrielle Clausing's world fell apart. Her father unexpectedly passed away from Covid-19. As anyone who has experienced grief knows, the journey isn't a straight one. It ebbs and flows with some days being significantly harder than others.
It was during a "particularly hard grief week" when Abrielle, 24, decided to embark on some retail therapy. She used to love thrifting with her dad, and no one loved a good deal more than he did.
However, she didn't just want to shop for the sake of shopping, she had a very specific item she wanted in mind.
"My sister and I decided to go thrifting and I told her I wanted to find a vintage Fossil brand purse," she explains in a now-viral TikTok video.
And wouldn't you know, Abrielle did indeed end up finding "the cutest vintage Fossil brand purse" - seriously what are the chances?
And as if that wasn't serendipitous enough, it was about to get a whole lot more remarkable.
Inside the purse was a handwritten note:
"When you read this you will be far from me in miles but not in my heart. I'm here. I love you."
Whelp.
She immediately took it as a sign from her beloved dad.
"I knew it was from him," she told People. "I always check the inside of the bag before I buy it to make sure it’s in good condition. When I stuck my hand in it, I felt the piece of paper and when I took it out and found the note, I read it out loud to my sister."
"When I saw the note, it just confirmed that he was with us," she added. "He’s always with us."
Response To The Viral TikTok
TikTok · abrielleclausingAbrielle's heartwarming video has garnered nearly one million views and over 1,000 comments and it's making believers out of every single one of us.
"I'm so afraid that death is final and we just stop existing. But some things can't be explained. There has to be more out there!!"
"This was def him 🥹💙"
"I’m literally crying so hard. Someone would have had to carry me out of the thrift 😭"
"I'm honestly at a loss for words. Wow. Just wow."
Even Fossil weighed in, writing, "What a beautiful note to find. Your dad's love will always be with you. Sending you and your family a big, warm hug."
Her TikTok also opened the floodgates for others to share the signs they've received from lost loved ones.
"My brother passed away & years later I was at a checkout line in the store & at the cash register was a young school photo of him that someone left.... never made sense but I'll never forget it."
"About 30 seconds after bursting in tears thinking about my grandpa a car merged in front of me and the license plate was his name and his age when he died 😭😭"
"When my mom passed, days after I found an email that not me nor my sister had opened or read before. It was an email my mom sent us 4 years before with the message “open it when I’m gone, love, mom”. It had a beautiful letter as an attachment."
Love Lives On
The note Abrielle Clausing found in a Fossil bag while thrifting is now part of a cherished collage.
People.com/Abrielle Clausing
Abrielle has given the note a place of honor, right smack in the middle of a framed collage of her favorite sayings and things.
It's a beautiful reminder that the love she shared with her dad lives on, even though he is gone.
And whether you believe in fate or not, you have to admit the universe had an uncanny way of showing up just when she needed it to.
After all, what are the odds that a stranger penned a note with the exact words she needed to hear, placed it in the exact bag she was looking for, AND that bag ended up in the exact thrift store she was shopping in? Pretty astronomical.
And yet, here we are.
Life is full of unexpected, magical moments that often happen when we least expect it. And sometimes those moments bring us the comfort and connection we need most, reminding us that love...is never truly lost.
Why Did You Give Up On Your Dreams?
As I was browsing Reddit, I accidentally fell on an AskReddit post titled: « Why did you give up on your dream? » I was curious to see what the community had to say because I'm sure a fair amount of people have given up on their dreams at some point in their lives. Honestly, I learned a lot by reading what people posted, and I thought it would be interesting to share my thoughts on the subject. So, let’s take a look at some of the most popular answers.
Why did you give up on your dream?
It won't pay enough
Of course, everyone thinks about that. You need to put food on the table. Moreover, you want the latest smartphone, an amazing car, the best wines; you also want to eat out at least three times a week, etc. (For more on that topic check out: If this is success, please don't be successful). Most people think that their dreams won't pay enough, so they stop pursuing it. Although it seems logical, I still think it’s sad to give up on your dreams for more money. Passion and motivation are very much underrated. It is true that it takes more than just passion and motivation to achieve something, but with dedication and determination, I believe anyone can make their dreams a reality. And I sure think that in the times we are living, everybody can find a way to earn a living out of what they are passionate about.
I'm afraid of taking risks
Who’s not afraid of risk? But we all have to take some risks at some point. Also, the level of risk you feel you are taking has to be put into perspective. Think about your "safe" job as an example. So, you think a stable job is not risky? You might answer, " I know. Anybody can lose their job.” But let’s dig a little deeper. Do you have control over decisions the company makes? Do you have a say in the strategy for the company is pursuing? Even the position that you have right now might not exist in a few years? Now ask yourself, which is riskier? To not have any control over your job, or is it better when you are in charge of what happens? Chances are, in pursuing your dream, you are actually taking fewer risks by taking control of your own destiny.
My friends were giving me a hard time
Who cares about what people think? Most people won’t understand why you decide to pursue a dream. No one can, because they don’t have the same thoughts, feelings, determination and passion as you. It 's okay to feel misunderstood. Most successful people are thought to be a little crazy until they reach success. Don't accept to be bullied, but keep an open mind for constructive criticism. People that constructively criticize your approach might be sharing a different perspective that can be very valuable in helping you reach your dreams.
You can't just become a dog; you have to be born one.
That is where humans are different than other animals. We were not born with wings, but we still found a way to fly. We cannot breathe underwater, but we made oxygen masks so that we can dive underwater. We were born on Earth, but scientists are still dedicating their lives to find ways so that we can live on other planets. It's the surprising thing about us humans, we adapt, we build, and we find solutions. You don’t have to be a bird to fly; you just have to put dedication, hard work, and passion to make that plane!
Remember, there is no good excuse not to pursue your dreams. Start today, or at least, give yourself the chance to think about it.