My friend Trish gifted me a Giving Key for the holidays. I arrived at her house, and she gave me the key, in a little red box. She told me about the keys, and tears flooded my eyes. What Trish did not yet know, was that I had just made a big, life-changing decision and was terrified. I was in the process of getting my ducks in a row to leave my husband of more than 20 years. I was scared on so many fronts. I put the key around my neck, and took it off only to shower for well over a year. Whenever I got scared or anxious, I would play with the key hanging around my neck- it was a reassurance that I had people in my corner, and that despite my fears, I was doing the right thing.
Over the following months, I gifted other people Giving Keys, but was not ready to part with my own. I knew the time was approaching, and I would have to pass it on soon. I even bought a different key pendant to replace it, promising myself that I would pass it on once my divorce was final... It should be soon.
Then, election day 2016 happened. Tears were everywhere. My boss was clearly having a hard time. I opened my inbox and saw an email from the Giving Keys, and it was clear that the time had come to pass along my key.
I will miss it terribly, but it has served its purpose in my hands, and now is fulfilling its destiny with someone else.
-Nechama
