I’d been looking for wind chimes for a couple years—not aggressively, just every now and then. Wind chimes are difficult to purchase online, and most stores who have any at all only have a handful. I wanted a combination of the right sound but also the right look. I didn’t have an incredibly specific idea—more like a range that excluded some sounds and looks.

As I planned a weekend trip, I knew I’d be at a store that had a lot of options. I’d seen them the prior year but hadn’t prioritized searching. But this year, I found them. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. There were a lot. And even though I tried some that were out of my range of interest, I focused quickly and reined in the search.

I put them into a container to travel home. The beautiful chimes clanked and sounded more like a noise maker than musical chimes. I got home and found the hook I was hoping I still had. I started to put them where I thought they belonged, where I had imagined them being for a couple years. I realized that wasn’t going to work. It was in line of the winds that might make night time a bit more unsettling than soothing. I moved them, considering the right place between too much strong wind and just enough breeze. I positioned them, and they sat still in silence for two days.

The third day was a windy day, and I started to suspect they were in the right place. Within a few more days, the weather evened out, and the steady breeze revealed the steady, deep tings. They were soft and soothing. Yes, they were in the right location. They fit into my home—even if they were outside.

Sometimes finding the right fit takes time—and not just with wind chimes. The search is worth the beauty found.

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