a simple scarf

As I am alone in my college dorm during a blizzard, I think back to a few weeks ago, during the height of finals when a late night in the library changed my whole perspective.

There was one more paper between me and my freedom, seven pages between me and my car ride home.  I usually take on my academic assignments with energy and focus, but I was completely gassed. The wheels of the emma bus were falling off and I never felt so mentally exhausted.

Around 11:30 pm my dearest friend Song, an international student who struggles with english and stands around 6’2” sat down with me. He is an absolute character and never fails to make me smile. As I began to pack up for the night, Song reached into his bag and pulled out a  beautiful turquoise and white scarf and handed it to me. Confused and surprised I asked Song why he had this scarf in his bag and why he was giving it to me. He smiled and answered, “I believe in giving gifts all the time, not just at Christmas time. This is a gift in appreciation of your presence.”

The scarf is one of the purest and simplest gestures that I have ever received. Song explained that he wanted to be the “year round Santa Claus” to have a variety of small tokens at the ready in his back pack, to give to a variety of people in his life. From professors who challenged him to friends who gave him rides to the supermarket.

Now if you know me, it takes a lot to make me cry, I very rarely do. But this scarf had me crying all the way back to my dorm. And that night I thought more and more about what Song said, about making sure others are feeling appreciated and how important it is to make the people in your life feel validated and important.

I don’t really have enough room in my backpack to have an assortment of gifts… ha ha ha.. but I do have space in my mind. I am huge believer in verbal affirmations, the process of spoken language being translated into a gift for another is quite magical. So like Song I am going to have a plethora of spoken gifts which I will be able to give.

Giving huge thanks and appreciation to a roommate who did the dishes when it was most likely my turn.

Express my gratitude to my math tutor for their patience and understanding my many difficulties with the subject of the devil.

Acknowledge the hard work and perseverance of my brother and commend him for it.

Tell my dearest friends leaving for Rome how much their presence and light will be missed while their away.

There is such freedom in just saying what we think, with no fear of embarrassment or rejection. To simply say what we feel to those around us is positively powerful. For speaking your affirmations empowers the receiver, along with the speaker.

So my dear readers, let me start with you. I appreciate your presence and support on this  platform. You are a crucial part of this journey here so I commend and thank you for taking time out of your day to read and hopefully grow with my string of words.

sincerely,

emma