Pandora Bracelets & Gratitude

I’ve learned it is often the small things we experience in life that can shift our mindset completely. Earlier this week I decided to get back to my HITT workout on Apple Fitness. (I mean we are paying for it monthly, might as well use it.) I ended the workout a 20min gratitude meditation.

I like to lay down during my mediation time. Daniel lead me through my breathing prompts to calm down then followed it up with asking me to think about things that you are filled with gratitude for. The gratitude could be for something big or something small even down to something you are wearing. My mind immediately went to the Pandora bracelet I was wearing.

Immediately my mind went to my Pandora bracelet. My mind travelled back to my now husband then boyfriend when he bought me this bracelet. We had been dating for just about a year before everyone’s world came to a screeching halt forcing everyone to live on lockdown as we lived through COVID. It seems like ages ago but I will never forget how worried, anxious, scared not knowing by the middle of that year grief would drive me to the lowest point of my life ever.

It was said if you could live with someone during lockdown of 2020 you could make it through anything. I don’t think that statement is too far off. Life was one big experience of trying to have some normalcy in the midst of such a crazy time. Lockdown brought about the time of a drive-by birthday gathering. My birthday was one month after the official lockdown, I secretly wanted a drive by birthday . Thankfully my man planned the most perfect surprise drive by birthday. He called all my friends, my family whom he gave thee most intricate details they were to follow down to a tee. After being left completely in the dark after going on a “walk” I start noticing these cars and the people I knew. And I lost it!

After talking to everyone at 6ft apart from each other…lol Carrying all the amazing gifts to our place he had one more surprise for me. A pandora bracelet with the most amazing, thoughtful card. It may not seem like much, to a girl like me, with the story I carry this meant more to me than anything in the world. I felt so loved that someone cared enough to consider me, include my friends and family my people to celebrate me. It wasn’t just about the gifts only it was a testament of the personal growth I had been at over the past couple of years. Over the years I have lived in some pretty dark places emotionally and mentally. Struggling to have regulated nervous system. Never believing I was worth love from myself or anyone else. It took years to evolve, grow and start to love me.

As I took this trip through my mind gratitude started to take over. I saw the young JeeJee who never thought I would be able to break free. I never thought I could overcome that terrible mindset. I thought about how I was a chronic people pleaser. How I used to do things merely for the love and acceptance of others. I would go out of my way to seek the love and approval of others while I would be left feeling empty. Reflecting on the growth over the years really does bring tears to my eyes. As I laid on the floor my heart was filled with thankfulness the tears begin to come to my eyes.

I was so thankful in that moment. So happy with the love I was able to bask in. Thankful that God had allowed me to overcome, to see life on the other side of sadness. I was so thankful to say that I made it out of those dark moments of my youth and some of my adulthood. What a testament of the prayers prayed.

Even though my husband got that Pandora bracelet almost 5 years ago it doesn’t change how it sparks a moment of love and gratitude for me. In the midst of the most uncertain, terrible, scary time in life. I am able to remember a time when all the stars in my world aligned giving me the most beautiful moment. A moment to reflect, smile, lean into and remember how much I am loved, how much I have grown and how beautiful life is.

Just know life always goes better with gratitude. Thank you makes room for more.