One of the beautiful aspects of life are hidden messages. Messages that the public eye cannot see, but you live by. For me, my rose necklace is way more than just a rose necklace, but to others...it is just a piece of jewelry. The beauty of this is that it is personal to you. You create little pieces that you connect with deeper meanings and find comfort within. Whether it is a piece of clothing, stuffed animal, a note, a color, etc., if you attach a memory or a lesson, it is way more than what meets the eye.
As a follow up, it is a great story to tell. I have had dozens of people compliment my necklace, and for a few, I told them why I wear it and what it means; the others who I did not share with did not realize how much their compliment genuinely meant to me. It is not mandatory to share your hidden message or explain yourself, but if you are comfortable with it, you would be surprised on how rewarding it is for a sincere conversation about something you are passionate about. I am not saying to reveal your life story to those who are not worthy of knowing that part of you, but be mindful to welcome close friends and family to that side of you that you tend to hide. If you have a certain object that links to a deeper meaning, my goal for the end of this entry is for you to share that story with someone you are comfortable with--you would be shocked on how that person might change their perspective.
I'll kick it off:
As many know (or may not know), I wear the same gold rose necklace everyday. I have had it since Christmas 2020 when I received it as a gift from my mother. I saw it in the previous months leading up to December 2020, and immediately fell in love with it. What many do not see, is the "A" carved in a small oval next to the flower. The "A" stands for Andrea Sonntag--the kindest and most loving person I had the opportunity to know. She was my role model, my partner in crime, my beautiful aunt.
Her laugh was contagious and one to remember. By just her laugh, I knew it was her--it was one of a kind. Her scent was, too. I had a customer walk in my job the other day, and they had almost the same perfume on that my Aunt Andrea wore. It brought instant tears to my eyes. The fact that after six years, her features remain constant in my life is unbelievable. She was fearless; nothing stood in her way. She pushed me to my limits. She made me do things I did not want to do, but she did it in a way to remind me of how much I offer to this world. I was always so scared to sing in front of people, but one day, she handed me my Hannah Montana microphone and turned on our favorite Christmas song: "Last Christmas" by Wham! She kept urging me to sing in front of our family, and I kept on refusing. It was not until she stood next to me and started singing, mind you, at the top of her lungs the chorus, that I finally took that leap and sang with her. She was beautiful inside and out--she put everyone before herself and she lit up any room she walked into. Aunt Andrea made an impact on anyone who she talked to--it is nearly impossible to forget how generous and compassionate this woman was.
Six years ago, God needed her home. She passed away in April 2015; she was taken too soon. I wish I could have gotten one more bear hug, or one more dance session with her, but I will forever cherish the times that I did have with her beautiful soul. She has shown me multiple signs that she is with me. One night, I was driving two and a half hours to my brother's college campus to visit him. It was my first time driving that far of a distance, and I was a tad nervous. I had this sudden urge to ask Aunt Andrea for a sign that she was with me, and in a matter of a minute, I passed this random billboard with just a picture of Jesus on it. It was unexpected, and I broke down in tears. I immediately felt her presence and was at peace knowing she is safe up there and free of pain.
One birthday, she gave me a Beauty and the Beast snow globe--it was the first snow globe I had ever received and I fell in love with it. Unfortunately, the glass shattered a year or so after her passing, but I still have the globe on my bookshelf. No matter the condition of it, I will always keep it close because it is one of the only things I have left of her. I like to believe we share Beauty and the Beast together; hence, the rose necklace. I found it one day on Etsy and knew I needed it in my life for her remembrance. When I receive compliments on it, I always think of her. I think of how she is smiling down, and it means a whole lot more than the other person realizes. Goes to show how a compliment can go a long way.
That is my hidden message: something the public eye does not realize. To others, it is just a necklace, but to me, it is something way more.
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