If I hadn't left, I wouldn't have found you

all about a keychain heart

Yesterday I received a gift from a new friend. She’s Ukrainian and brand new to Canada, having only just arrived here with her parents and little sister in January. She made conversation with me last week when her best friend, Sabine, was not at school. She laughed and smiled when she told me “I don’t know what to do with myself when Sabine’s not here!”. Ever since that day, when we see each other and smile, I feel so grateful to know she safe and in the world. Yesterday (Valentine’s Day!) she surprised me with a spontaneous gift—a heart key chain and the words “It’s because I love you!”. It was such a shock to hear those words, spoken with such certainty and generosity. And my response was to answer her back “Well, thank you! Oh my goodness. I love you too!”

She didn’t know I’d been having an off week. She didn’t know my heart was feeling a little heavy, that I had been ruminating about the past a little too much, thinking a lot about a place I’d left behind. I took her gesture as a sign. A sign that I am meant to be where I am right now. And how lucky I am to be here!

I hope anyone who reads this is where they need to be, and feeling loved.

xox Shanny Raindrop

(photo of me squishing Gabriel’s head with kisses, 2014)