Moments like that have always stayed with me because they remind me to pay attention to the quiet wonders in life. A moon, a star, the night air, the hush of evening, these small gifts ask nothing of us except that we notice them. And when we do, they have a way of steadying our thoughts and opening our hearts.

Nature is my true authentic sister. I find Nature to be a great gift to the human spirit, a source of comfort, wonder, and quiet healing. Nature is our friend. Her shapes, colors, and forms, her effortless aesthetic beauty, speak to our emotions without saying a word. She asks nothing of us except that we notice her. And when we do, she has a way of calming our thoughts, lifting our spirits, and bringing us back to ourselves. She is authentic. She is wise. And in her company, I feel understood.

Your True Self

Darlings, if you have abandoned your authentic self, don’t ignore her. Chase her down and begin to dance to “your” drumbeat again. If you want to travel, travel. Want to cut your hair? Cut it. If you don’t speak your mind, learn to. Are you with the wrong people for the wrong reasons? Drop them. If you want to start a career, start one. Want to go back to college? Sign up for classes. Nothing will make you feel better about yourself than being your authentic self.

And perhaps that is why I love Nature so dearly. She reminds me that authenticity is a beautiful thing. She does not pretend, she does not strive, she simply is. And when I stand in her presence, I am reminded that I, too, am meant to live as my truest self.

Authentic and Personal Gift-Giving

Today, I am reflecting on three stories. My stories are short vignettes pertaining to nature, as they hold a special place in my heart. These stories are about gifts from the sea, the earth, and the people who gifted them. As well, the stories are about gifts I have given and the gifts I have gotten. They are all authentic. One story took place in America on Nantucket Island, while another took place in Ireland and the third vignette in Israel. I call these stories, “Gifts from the Heart.”

And perhaps that is a quiet form of self care, too, giving and receiving with meaning instead of excess. A gift from the heart asks us to slow down, to notice, to remember, and to feel. In a world that often pushes us toward more, authentic gift giving brings us back to what truly nourishes the spirit: love, thoughtfulness, memory, and connection.

A Gift From the Sea

Several years ago my husband Shelly and I were walking hand-in-hand in the early hours of the morning along the Atlantic shore. The sun had just peaked her head. We were on Nantucket Island, undoubtedly the lone walkers on the beach. As my eyes skirted the vicinity I noticed in the far distance, among very reeds, an extremely tall Woman with white hair. Very clearly I noticed she would disappear and then reappear!

“I would love to meet that woman,” I said to Shelly.

“What woman?” He asked.

“The Woman in the not too far distance,” I replied.

“Why is that important to you?”

“I’m inquisitive,” I explained. “I want to know what she is doing out here alone in the tall reeds. She keeps bending over and then standing up.”

“All right, let’s go,” said Shelly.

We had to push the reeds back as we made our way towards her.

The Woman was almost six-feet-tall, elderly, with silver hair worn in a bun. She had a bronze glow to her skin that showed her life story and beautiful clear blue eyes with strong, large hands. The Woman was dressed in a long blue dress that resembled a pinafore, with an apron tied around her waist. As well, under her pinafore she wore a crisp white shirt, therefore I imagined her to be in her late eighties.

I could tell she was one with The Sea. They were authentic sisters. For my part, I was glad I was pulled toward, The Woman In Blue.

The Women In Blue

She smiled. We smiled.

“Good morning,” we said. “We walked over to see what you are doing.”

“I am shelling. Collecting shells,” she replied.

“I love seashells,” I declared. “I love everything that has to do with, The Sea.”

She then opened her apron and showed me her morning collection of the most amazing seashells I had ever seen.

“What do you do with all these shells?” I inquired.

“I collect shells for the shell shop in town. Today I found the most beautiful shell. Look!”

“Do you know its name?” I asked.

“Yes, it’s called a Moon Shell.”

The Woman noticed I could not take my eyes off this exquisitely patterned medium-sized shell. She said smiling, “I would like to give it to you! Please accept this as my gift from The Sea.”

She continued, “Take it home, wash it in bleach to clean out the animal, and the bleach will bring back its natural color.”

I looked up at her and replied, “Thank you. I will always treasure your gift.”

We said our goodbyes and I carefully wrapped my Moon Shell and carried her back to Chicago. After I arrived home, I followed the instructions from The Woman In Blue. Then, I carefully placed my beautiful white shell into a glass box with a lid to view her every day.

My lovely Moon Shell still sits on my desk fifteen years later! The joy this small gift brings to me cannot be measured in words. Because of this, I wish I could once again thank, The Women In Blue.

Two Hearts, Daughters, and Valentine’s Day Presents

This story took place about sixteen years ago as Shelly and I drove around the Ring of Kerry in Ireland. One of our stops was at a famous lake that grants wishes if you dip your hands in the water–I could not resist, Darlings!

“Let’s walk down to the lake,” I said to Shelly.

The walk down was laden with medium-sized rocks in all shapes and sizes so it was a difficult walk. You could trip or lose your balance because the rocks moved as you walked. Shelly and I had to keep our eyes glued to the ground as we proceeded down to the water’s edge. As I neared the water, I saw two medium-sized rocks lying side by side. I truly believe that a million people would never have noticed those rocks, but to my eye, they looked like abstract hearts. I let go of Shelly’s hand and bent down to pick them up.

“What are you doing?” Shelly asked.

“What do these rocks remind you of?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” was the answer.

“They are authentic abstract hearts!” I said. “I am going to take them home, write a loving saying on each rock in red magic marker and give them to the girls for Valentine’s presents!”

Shelly just smiled, squeezed my hand and kissed my cheek. However, I must admit I did not think these two rocks would have the impact they did on my daughters. Therefore I was overjoyed when I saw the heart’s importance. Overjoyed because my daughters visualized their mother finding them on the shoreline of Ireland and thinking of them–it was wonderful.

What is even more wonderful is that I noticed years ago that both of them placed their Valentine Rock with their Mother’s words of love on their perfume trays in their baths. In fact, this is where they still sit today. These are authentic gifts of love that can never be replaced and are always cherished.

A Grandson’s Gift to His Honey

My grandson, Robbie, was traveling to Israel on Birth Right, a great trip for young people. He always brings me a present from his travels.

“Honey, what would you like me to bring you from Israel?” Robbie asked.

“Nothing store-bought. A gift from the land would be a treasure,” I replied.

Without a doubt, I was not disappointed in this grandson of mine. Robbie brought me a perfectly shaped round rock that looks like sand and is sturdy and hard like the State of Israel.

It is a treasured gift because it came from my grandson and the Land of Israel. My rock sits on my desk along with my Moon Shell for Nantucket.

 

Share the Importance of Authentic Gift-Giving

I have shown my daughters and my grandchildren the art of authentic gifting by the gifts I give to them, my gifts from the heart. Darlings, these are my eternal words to them:

“Gifts do not have to cost money to bring joy to your family and friends. The joy of a material possession lasts but for the moment. An authentic gift from an authentic heart lasts a lifetime.”

And today, as my Ultimate Concierge fights vascular dementia and our life has changed so very much, I understand this lesson even more deeply. What lasts, what truly lasts, are the gifts tied to memory, love, meaning, and presence. These are the treasures that steady the heart when life becomes uncertain. Amen.