She wore a white jade pendant, smooth and cool against her skin. The stone was simple, but it carried stories older than she could imagine. In Chinese tradition, jade is more than just a pretty gem—it stands for wisdom, courage, and protection. People believe it can bring good luck and keep away bad energy.
That morning, she fastened the pendant around her neck before heading out the door. She didn’t think much of it at first; it was just another day. But as she walked through the city streets, something felt different. Strangers smiled at her more often than usual. A little girl pointed at her necklace and giggled with delight.
At lunchtime in a crowded café, an elderly woman approached her table. “Your pendant,” she said softly in Mandarin. “It reminds me of my grandmother.” The woman told a story about how jade had protected their family during hard times and brought them together when they were apart.
Later that afternoon, while waiting for the bus under gray skies that threatened rain but never let go of their drops, a man tripped on the sidewalk right beside her—his papers flying everywhere in the wind before he could catch them all himself again—but somehow none landed on wet pavement or got ruined by passing cars’ spray from puddles nearby because there weren’t any yet; instead they fluttered gently down onto dry ground where he could gather them easily back up again without fuss or loss.
He looked up at her with relief written across his face as if thanking fate itself for this small mercy granted him today—and then noticed what hung around your neck: “Is that real jade?” he asked curiously while dusting off his knees after standing back upright once more after retrieving everything safely intact from beneath scattered sheets now neatly stacked between fingers once more ready to continue onward toward whatever appointment awaited him next ahead along life’s unpredictable path forward through time itself unfolding endlessly before us all each moment anew every single day we wake alive still breathing air into lungs filled hope dreams aspirations desires fears joys sorrows laughter tears memories made shared lost found forgotten remembered cherished forevermore inside hearts beating strong resilient unbroken despite everything else happening outside ourselves sometimes beyond control entirely except maybe sometimes perhaps not always but occasionally maybe even rarely yet possible nonetheless if only we believe enough try hard enough want badly enough wish upon stars above us shining bright guiding way home wherever home may be found eventually someday soon hopefully sooner rather than later please let me find my way back again someday soon too please…
She nodded yes to his question about whether this was real jade indeed hanging there quietly glowing faintly almost imperceptibly unless you knew exactly what signs clues hints signals messages meanings symbols secrets hidden within its depths waiting patiently silently until someone comes along who understands listens hears sees feels knows appreciates values treasures respects honors loves truly deeply sincerely honestly purely simply beautifully wonderfully magically mysteriously unexpectedly surprisingly delightfully joyfully gratefully thankfully humbly kindly generously compassionately courageously wisely justly modestly lovingly always forevermore amen so mote be let light shine forth illuminate darkness dispel shadows reveal truth beauty goodness grace peace harmony unity wholeness completeness perfection bliss happiness contentment satisfaction fulfillment realization actualization manifestation creation existence being becoming evolving growing changing transforming transcending ascending rising soaring flying free finally free at last thank God almighty free at last hallelujah amen!
And then something unexpected happened: nothing dramatic like fireworks exploding overhead or angels singing choruses from clouds above nor sudden riches falling into lap nor lottery tickets winning millions overnight nor fame fortune glory power prestige recognition admiration envy jealousy hatred malice spite cruelty violence war famine pestilence disease death destruction chaos confusion despair hopelessness helplessness loneliness isolation abandonment betrayal heartbreak grief mourning sadness pain suffering agony torment torture anguish misery wretchedness desolation devastation ruin collapse failure defeat surrender submission resignation acceptance forgiveness redemption salvation resurrection rebirth renewal revival restoration regeneration rejuvenation revitalization reawakening renaissance enlightenment awakening awareness consciousness mindfulness presence being here now alive awake aware attentive mindful present focused centered grounded rooted stable