The Necklace That Became a New Beginning

A Second Chance for a Piece of Jewelry

About two months later, the necklace reappeared on my desk. It was the same chain, but the engraving on the back had been polished off and replaced. The new message read: “Keep Shining.”

There was no note. No confession. But I had a strong feeling it was Rafi, the intern who was now a full-time employee and seemed much kinder since the day he found me crying. I put the necklace back on. It wasn’t a reminder of a past hurt anymore, but a symbol that people can change—and so can I.

A Different Kind of Change

Our office culture didn’t change overnight. Curtis still made negative comments sometimes, but now more people were willing to push back. The overall feeling in the office changed; the quiet people weren’t so quiet anymore. I had stopped giving so much power to people who didn’t understand me or my intentions. And that made all the difference.

From a Target to a Leader

Around that time, my boss, Lorena, asked me to take on a leadership role mentoring new staff members. She had noticed how I had handled myself and grown in the process. I said yes. The experience that had almost broken me became the very reason I was able to help others stand taller, sooner.

A Moment of Real Forgiveness

About a year later, I ran into Curtis in the break room. He looked at my necklace. “You still wear that thing?” he asked.Continue reading…