As the sun shines down upon this meticulously structured gem, it glimmers and reflects light randomly, possibly even breaking apart the light’s color spectrum. It has many stems of crystal inside and out and can even be sharp to the touch. This rock is known as a quartz crystal. Specifically, my quartz crystal is super glued to an oval cut piece of metal that is attached to a string, which forms a necklace. It is not too heavy; one could forget about its presence when it’s worn. The quartz is very durable and can withstand a variety of forces. On the other hand, the string it is attached to feels like rubber, is very fragile and has broken more than once. Even though some may think this item is cheap, it is valuable to me.
Not too long ago, I received this item as a gift from my uncle Steve. He bought the necklace somewhere in Arkansas, or this is one he made himself. All I know is that he might be making his necklaces from raw minerals found in a cave system on his property. As to the reason why he gave it to me — I have no idea. I could speculate that it was because Uncle Steve knew I faintly enjoyed looking at rocks, or simply because of my profound interest in science. Even if there wasn’t a definite motive, I think there was an unrevealed reason behind why I received it. The day I got the rock, my great grandmother Frances passed away peacefully within the home she and her husband Richard built so long ago together. The quartz symbolizes some of the good memories I can remember as well as the bad ones because overall, all memories are worth remembering. When the sun shines and the sky is blue, the rock resides on my person. When I return home, it remains on a table in my bedroom.
This object holds significant meaning in my life because it is a reminder of my great grandmother and that time is limited, so I must make the most of what I have now. When writing about this object, I realized that it connects deep within my subconscious beliefs and values. Deep down, I believe being grateful and appreciative for what you have in the present is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. What I mean by this is that living in the present and not taking what you have for granted allows you to experience life in a totally different way, compared to just living focused on the bad and reminiscing about the past. I do not think loss is a bad thing, considering it is everyone’s fate. I do not see it as the end of something, but rather the beginning and an opportunity for something new.
