IMBUED WITH MEANING

"I felt inspired to get this for you," she said, stretching her arm across the wooden table to hand me a little square paper bag.

Velvety gray with silver writing on it, representing the jewelry store where it was from—elegance was its name.

My heart skipped a beat. "What? For me?"

"Happy Birthday, Mae."

Delightfully like a child on Christmas morning, I unraveled the bag and the small gray box inside it to reveal a delicate and graceful golden necklace with a diamond charm in the center. It shone like the sun. It took my breath away.

"I wanted you to know what a special friend you are to me. You’re like sunshine to me," she said, as giant teardrops rolled down my cheeks.

In a flash, I imagined her at the jewelry store, selecting the piece for me, connecting with the intended meaning that this shiny charm represented to her, and now, to me. My heart burst wide open in wonder and connection. A sisterhood. Not only because of this gift she had just given me but also because I had noticed during our lunch that she was wearing a similar piece around her neck.

"It's just like yours! I was just thinking how lovely it looks on you."

I needed to get up from the table to embrace her. There was such an overflow.

 

I felt warm inside. With love. With connectivity. With thoughtfulness. And appreciation. Reflecting on what a wonder it is that we found each other in this life. Souls like family.

Still, though, it wasn’t until later that evening that I could finally wrap my head around how much this gift meant to me. I thought to myself—this is the first time since my husband died that anyone has gifted me a piece of jewelry. I remembered all the times I thought of buying myself something to add a little sparkle to my otherwise minimalistic and simple closet. I bookmarked websites, checked stores, and even tried a few on, but nothing felt quite right.

I wondered: Do I not feel deserving? Do I have self-worth issues?

I couldn’t put my finger on it—until this.

This gift made me realize that what I really wanted was the meaning imbued in the gift. The object best serves as a vehicle for the meaning and would act as a symbol to remind me. Then, for the first time, I realized something about myself. My moment of kizuki: as much as I love and appreciate beautiful pieces of elegance, even more so than that, I am someone who values the meaning imbued in it.

So, dear sister.

Your inspiration was spot on. You not only gave me something very, very special. You helped me realize something about myself.

Remember these wise words by Ms. Maya Angelou: “People will never forget how you made them feel.”