The Charm Bracelet
             We spend most of our adult lives as women accessorising. Bags and shoes, which, by the way, need not match these days, earrings and bracelets, necklaces and funny head bands, piercings and funny stockings, dogs to our car’s upholstery, men’s ties to the straps of our barely there dresses, mobile phones to the latest dental tattoo, whatever we think looks good on us, or makes us look even better.
            The charm-bracelet, now there’s an ever fashionable accessory. The charm bracelet is the reflection of your inner self. Those who wear only charm-bracelets allow other people to see right into their soul. If you ask me, it’s an act of courage. One is very careful when adding charms to their bracelets. You start with a heart. Anatomically and metaphorically, a heart is a heart is a heart. It comes with the territory. Next to the heart you place your sign – I’m a Virgo, by the way. But why give people a general idea of your character? Are you an exhibitionist, or perhaps you need to be reminded what sign you were born under? What else…? Oh, there’s always the elephant, or the four-leave clover for good luck. Some are braver than others, they will add a religious symbol so people will have no problem labelling them in terms of what God they pray to. But who cares? Nothing is personal anymore. The irony of it all is I personally stand against this particular accessory, yet I would wear it, in fact I am thinking of having one custom-made, in gold. It’s also the perfect gift on a Valentine’s Day. The perfect gift you can indulge in, provided you have the time and money to look for those charms that mirror yourself only. Why should you wait for someone to give you the perfect Valentine gift, when you are the ever independent woman who needs no flowers and chocolate to know she is worth something… and not just on Valentine’s Day, but every single day, year in, year out…
            If by any chance or strike of good luck I would be able to have tiny, miniature-like replicas of my beloved, precious family and friends, made in gold or silver, or whatever, they would be the charms on my bracelet.
            Accessorize your life with friends, especially on St.Valentine’s Day, friends are the most beautiful accessory you can ever wear with pride; they are the sum of your acts of kindness, charisma, generosity, wit, sense of humour, they wear well no matter the season, whatever the colour of your soul on any given day. And in the meantime, every day should be an exercise in patience, love, tolerance, commitment, friendship, laughter, trust, honesty, raising good children, trying to understand the people around you, respect them just because your mamma told you so/taught you that!  
            How many charms can you count on your bracelet at the end of the day?
 

                                                                                                Diana