I wear a tiger eye beaded bracelet as a reminder to stay courageous. Sometimes that means stepping outside my comfort zone. Sometimes it means saying thank you. And sometimes it means standing by what I believe, knowing someone may have something unkind to say about it.
I could stand by my views without having the last word, and remain open to a conversation where we both genuinely wanted to listen.
But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia
When I look at the bracelet, that is what I want to remember. I can feel the sting of someone’s words without letting those words decide whether I speak. I can stand by my convictions and still leave room to listen.
