Happy New Year from Abe Lincoln!
As we roll into 2024 and I finished counting all of my 2023 running change, I just know that Honest Abe is proud of a job well done. Here's how much I found, lessons learned, and dirt-covered inspo!
💰☁️ Pennies From Heaven ☁️ 💰
Every year, I pick up change on all of my runs. They’re my tiny, shiny affirmations that I’m on the right path. Since Abraham Lincoln is my all-time favorite president (Teddy Roosevelt following closely behind), I like to imagine that he’s up there sitting on his bougie cloud having an absolute party as he throws pennies from heaven for me to find on my runs.
🤢 What do you mean you pick up dirt-covered change on your runs?
It’s as simple as it sounds! I get insane joy at being on a scavenger hunt of serendipity each run and it gives me something to do. I call it “street sweeping” because I’m also cleaning up the streets of Denver one run at a time. I’m not limited to pennies. I discriminate against no coins or tokens, foreign or domestic {she salutes the city capital}.
In 2023, just on my runs and walks alone, I found $79.63! Never let anyone tell you that running doesn’t pay.
That’s 1,521 pennies, 129 nickels, 278 dimes, 96 quarters and foreign currency from Romania to Tanzania to Japan! (For the record, I’ve never been to any of those places).
🤷🏻♀️ But like, where do you find this change?
Literally everywhere! I find them in the street, near my feet, under parking meters, and by people smoking weeders. I have no shame in admitting that this year I’ve pulled change out of a pile of hair-dirt, off of port-o-potty floors, crawled underneath trucks, and had an extensive conversation with a drunk man about the history of the dime as I found one near his bench. Again, zero shame.
Check out my Instagram reel on my page to watch this chaos unfold!
🩳 Where do you carry this change when you find it?
The North Face (my adoring sponsor who just loves this marketable aspect of my personality) has the world’s best running shorts and pants with pockets to nestle my jingle-jangles. Their hydration pack also conveniently comes with a built-in change pocket with a money-securing zipper! #neverstopexploring
➡️ Street Sweeping Hot Spots, Tricks, and Honey Holes
I’ve gotten incredibly good at spotting change. In fact, I challenge any eagle to swoop down and eat a mouse quicker than I can find change on a run! As much as it scares me to share my trade secrets, here’s what I’ve learned so far this year about the best tips for finding change…
🔥 Hot Spots: Parking meters, car washes, intersections, port-o-potty floors
🪄 Tricks: Just after sunrise is the best time for the change to reflect the sparkle of the day. Pick a neighborhood to sweep — run up one side of the street and down the other. When you see one penny, check the area for more (like birds, pennies tend to flock together).
🍯 Honey Holes: There’s a spot in my neighborhood that I swear, every time this guy exits his truck, change pours out of his pockets with holes in them because there is always change. I hit that honey hole at least three times a week!
⚠️ Rules for Street Sweeping
Just like art, there are no actual rules for street sweeping, any other collecting, or joy-seeking that brings happiness to your life. But here are some of my guidelines:
Yes, you’re allowed to stop your watch when you pick up change.
Yes, you’re allowed to keep your watch running when you pick up change.
You’re allowed to make any run a street-sweep even if you’re a super serious, dedicated, this-is-my-job professional runner. Same for if you’re not a pro runner.
No, you don’t have to explain your strange hobby of joy to anyone. My aunt likes to pick up all things shiny: coins, screws, nails, bullet casings. Hell yea, Sparkle Mobile Notary!
Yes, you do need to wash your hands after counting your treasures, my precious. Don’t be gross.
Yes, it’s ok to have a sign that means something to you and you alone.
Although tempting, wishing wells and fountains are off-limits because those are the hopes and dreams of others.
🌈 My Intentions for Continued Joy in 2024
I’ve been picking up change for as long as I can remember, and I have zero intentions of slowing down in 2024. I will never apologize for doing what I love (unless I hold up traffic because there’s a penny in an intersection).
My hope for everyone this year is that we relish in our unique moments of joy, we remember that spare change adds up, and that we leave space for magic.
Own Your Weird!
PS - Do you have anything weird that you collect? I’d love to hear more in the comments!