mosaic

I am a mosaic of every person I have ever met and loved.

The "j" in my signature is written the way my middle school friend's dad used to write his. When I am asked what scent of lotion I want at the nail salon, I choose lavender because that is my mom's favorite. I started listening to Taylor Swift again because my best friend in high school played it every day in her car. The sandwich I eat at the local cafe is because he ordered it once, and I never looked back. Most of my favorite songs and movies are my favorite because other people loved them first. My prized possession is a stuffed animal lamb my late Nana gave me, and now I do not eat lamb (dramatic I know). My sushi order is the same as my sisters because if she likes it, I know I will. Monopoly is my favorite board game because it was our go-to during sleepovers at my Vovo's house, and it was the longest game that allowed the most players. The ocean is my favorite thing in the world because that's where I spent every summer and nice day growing up. I love sports because my dad loved taking me to Red Sox and Celtics games as a kid. My coffee order was recommended to me by an old friend and I have yet to find something better. I do not leave my friends out of plans because growing up girls did that to me. I work hard because I have seen people like my Pops work hard and find success. I never cheat in golf because my Grandpa told me it was better to lose while playing an honest game. I never hang up the phone without a "love you" because my friends in college never ended a call without it. I do not go to bed angry because my Nana told me it was never a good decision to fall asleep upset. I went to UGA because a girl from my high school did, and she posted fun pictures on Instagram. I found field hockey because a teammate told me she was going to try it since the skills were similar to lacrosse. I love because I have seen loss.

I am who I am because of the people I love. It stretches from coffee orders to relationships. I learn and grow from every person that shares love with me. I take things from past friendships and relationships, and bring them into new ones. I also leave things from past friendships and relationships and know that those do not serve me in the future. An evolving and beautiful mosaic that encapsulates the memories and actions of people I love, or lessons from past friends and family. My mosaic consistently changes and grows like a drawing that never runs out of paper.

The moral of the story is even if we loved someone briefly, or they are no longer with us, we carry a piece of them within ourselves. We are a collection of the love we have received.

Who is built into your mosaic? How may we pass down the things and traits we love onto others?

Continue to love on those around you, and carry pieces of loved ones within yourself.

xoxo,

Jane