Jewels
A friend recently went on a business trip to Japan and purchased a much deserved pearl necklace. The piece is gorgeous but for her, it symbolizes more than just beauty. Every time she wears it, or even gazes at it, she’ll be reminded of a good trip abroad, her career, a milestone birthday, and a life event. I couldn’t be happier for her.
Jewelry has energy. Not the woo-woo kind (okay, maybe just a little), but something undeniable happens when certain pieces make their way into your life. Gems—whether they’re expensive, rare, or a sentimental heirloom—hold a charge. And sometimes, that charge is more than just sparkly joy. Sometimes, it feels like strength. Like history. Like magic.
Milestones
After my dad passed away, my mom gave me her wedding ring. She’d worn it for decades, a piece she cherished deeply and now wanted me to have. The problem? Her fingers are much smaller than mine, so it sat tucked away, waiting for a purpose I couldn’t quite envision.
Recently, I decided to celebrate my own milestone birthday by combining my mom’s diamond with the stone from my engagement ring—two pieces with deep significance, now brought together. I reached out to a jeweler friend—retired, but still taking special orders—who had made some of my favorite pieces in the past. She designed a Toi et Moi ring (French for “you and me”), a style where two stones sit side by side, representing connection.
At first, I thought it was just about my mom and me—two generations of love and fortitude. But the more I wore it, the more I realized it meant so much more. It’s me and my husband, who has been by my side through 39 years of milestones. It’s me and my daughter, who carries our family’s story forward—wearing the same gemstone as I do, a quiet thread linking us across time. It’s me and every relationship that has shaped who I am—a reminder that none of us exists in isolation. We are made and strengthened by the bonds we create.
When I slipped it on for the first time, something clicked. The ring didn’t just sparkle; it buzzed. And not just because it’s beautiful, though it is. There’s something about wearing those two stones together, from the two most important people in my life, that makes me feel solid. Strong. Like I’m carrying my past and my present all at once.
Jewelry, at its best, is a wearable reminder of love, resilience, and identity. A talisman. A superhero’s cape. And in turbulent times like these, we could all use something that anchors us.
No, I don’t have a vault full of priceless gems. But I have this ring. And every time I wear it, I feel a little more ready to face whatever’s coming next, including corporate hell.
Use what gives you strength, Bitches.