In 2014, my mom visited Scotland. While she was there, she got me a super special necklace from the Edinburgh castle. I wore it until the string was ruined, and I couldn’t wear it anymore. Luckily, when my mother went back in 2016, she got me a necklace exactly like the one that was getting so worn out! She’s obviously incredibly thoughtful and knows me so well. Now my old one is hanging from the mirror in my car because I couldn’t possibly throw it away.

Each necklace that they sell has a different Celtic symbol and a little quote.  The symbol on mine is called a Destiny Knot. The legend in the quote says that the Destiny Knot is carried as a symbol of hope and faith. It is believed that once the wearer comes to a certain “thme” in their life, the knot will unwind to show the true path their life must take. I always find a lot of comfort in that as it reminds me that things really do work out when they are supposed to.

I wear this necklace every day. Whenever it has been lost in the past, I’ve been a little bit freaked out. It’s weird to reach for it and find that it’s gone. It always seems to turn up again though. I feel like it belongs around my neck close to my heart. When I don’t wear it around my neck because it doesn’t match all my jewelry, I tie it in my hair, stick it in my jacket pocket, or put it in whatever bag I will be carrying that day.

It might sound a little bit strange that I wear the same piece of jewelry every day. I always talk about exploring and trying new things, but this necklace is special. I have a closet full of things that I love, and I love to switch things in and out of my wardrobe, but this is a little more permanent. Because of its Celtic meaning, I hope that it will bring me luck on my journey to meet my destiny.

categories: Journal / tagged: 26 letters, Lavender for Luck, My Favorite Accessory, Necklace, Scotland, Treasure Chest

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GENTLE HUMAN BEINGS

Today’s post has been heavily inspired by my grandmother Carolyn Bessey for the charming, beautiful way that she lives her everyday life. She has a neighbor who lives across the street. Her cat is in love with my grandmother and comes over to sit outside of her kitchen window in the evenings. Sometimes when the neighbors are on vacation, she will feed the cats, and I assume this is how they got to know each other.

One cat doesn’t get along with the others, and this became apparent following an injury, so my grandmother has started feeding her at her own home instead. Although it is not her responsibility, my grandmother doesn’t complain about the extra time, and I think the cat has started to grow on both her and my grandfather. How precious a gift it is to think about others before yourself.

Human beings are special. I’m not trying to be an over the top optimist. I know that not all human beings are the best. There are plenty of bad seeds in the world, and like my favorite movie Practical Magic says, with the sweet comes the sour. However, there is a lot of good in this world. There are little things all around us that make me believe that people are better than we assume they are.

Gentle human beings are everywhere. They are the ones who hold the door open for you before entering a building, plant flowers, stop for pedestrians, or even the ones who take the time to read books to their children. Sometimes the gentle human beings slip through the cracks because their little acts aren’t a big moment in our day. I’d like to think that this lack of appreciation is a big part of their uniqueness. In fact, their act has nothing to do with the recognition at all. It has to do with YOU.

For a tiny moment, that person can put their own mess of thoughts on the back-burner. Instead, they stop to think about somebody other than themselves. That tiny act may not weigh too heavily on our thoughts. And if you did reflect on your experiences, you may find that you hardly ever spend the day thinking fondly about the person who opened a door for you. Would it change your outlook on your day if you did think about it a little bit more graciously? I bet that it would. In fact, I bet the tiny acts would begin to create more positive day to day experiences.

So perhaps that’s what we should do. Slow down, and realize how many more people (or cats) we interact with in a day. Let’s make time and have patience for small conversations, and plant flowers. Let’s give mother’s a smile when their child is naughty in the grocery store (Heaven knows they’re trying their best). Lend helping hands to those who need us. All those things have the ability to make the world a little bit better for those around us.

xx, Haley