Learn about one of the most unique and magical gifts in the universe...

Those Little Beads

Why did I start the Those Little Beads project?

When I first began making Those Little Beads, I had so many inquiries about them that it came very clear to me that I had to figure out an easier way to share my experience with Those Little Beads with others. At the burn center, I just told people the story of how they came to be and then handed people a bead or two to take with along with them. However, I kept thinking, there had to be an easier way to share them in such a way that others could also share them. Those Little Beads really needed to be portable and suitable for people of all sizes, shapes and colors in order for them to continue to be shared so I eventually decided to begin making them into necklaces.

However, a small problem arose from the creation of the necklaces. When people saw my necklaces, they immediately wanted to buy them. Sure, most would say, "That's not much of a problem." However, it was a huge problem, for me, for several reasons.

The first reason it was a problem for me was because the whole point of making the necklaces was to share the experience not make money. In fact, I have found, money often actually keeps people from many experiences both because it allows people with money to skip an experience and it denies people without money from ever being given the opportunity of the experience. Not only that, I had no desire to turn my "magical" necklaces into ordinary ones through an act of commerce nor did I want to ever restrict the exchange to "commercial" areas. I wanted to be able to offer the experience of Those Little Beads to anyone, anywhere, at any time, for any reason.

As well, if I had decided to charge for the necklaces, I would have no idea what to charge. This is because I have found that the price of something rarely truly represents its value and Those Little Beads had become far too valuable to me to even imagine a price. For example, the same pile of manure that has absolutely no value at all to some people (to the point that they actually would pay people to take it away) may be very valued by someone (who would pay top dollar for it) who needs it for their garden. So, what price could I really fairly put on something that was truly priceless and invaluable to me?

After pondering these things, I came up with a plan. What I would do when someone asked me if they could "buy" a Those Little Beads I would tell them they are not for sale but that they could give me something of value and I would in turn give them a necklace. I thought, it was quite fitting, since it would remind people of what it is they truly value. This plan also revealed that it wasn't necessarily the thing itself that was most valuable but the connections we made with it.

I was amazed at the results. People gave me all sorts of things. Some people gave me their rings, some people gave me their keyrings, and they all had a story behind what they had given me. And, yes, some people even gave me money (because, that was what was valuable, to them). What we all seemed to value most was the story behind why they valued the things they gave me which just proved to me even more that it is in fact not the thing itself that carries the value but the connections we give it that make it valuable. It was truly amazing to me, the things that most people valued were really not the things even the things at all but the connections to them.

One lady I came across gave me something more valuable than even I could or ever would imagine. In fact, she is the reason I continue on with the project to this day.

Dee, a homeless lady I befriended, gave my project both a meaning and a purpose I never could have imagined, as she explained the magical power of Those Little Beads.

She explained to me, the magic of Those Little Beads is quite powerful because they not only represent the intentions of the artist but also the intentions of every person who identifies with them. She went on to say that this sort of connection is one of the most powerful things in the world because it brings the energy of people and things together to create something extremely powerful. She explained that each bead is like a person, each is made up of not only the energies of the materials used to create it but also the energies of the creator as well as everyone and everything else that it comes in contact with. This connection not only makes them uniquely beautiful on their own but also allows them to change into something even more beautiful with every connection they make. "All they need', she said, "is a common thread to bring them together."

I, then, began to add recycled puzzle piece beads to the necklaces, to remind myself and others of that "connection". My hope was that through these puzzle peices we would all be reminded of the connections we make every day that have the potential to change hearts, minds and lives.

Then, the 9/11 tragedy hit. And, it hit, especially close to home, as my own mother was working at the WTC, at the time. I was fortunate, she worked nights and had left the building about half an hour before the first plane hit. However, others were not so fortunate. I watched as this single event changed the world and my connection to it changed me.

I decided, I wanted to do something to help these people but they were on the other side of the country and (living below the poverty level, myself) I had absolutely no money to give. However, I realized, that did not mean I didn't have anything of value to give. So, I took my necklaces out and began giving necklaces to people in exchange for giving me money I could then donate to any and all of the 9/11 charities. After all, what better way was there to demonstrate the true power of Those Little Beads than to reveal that they can not only have an affect on you and those people and things around you are that you are in direct contact with but they can also connect and affect people and things indirectly completely across an entire country? And, I did it, I raised over $1,000 dollars with Those Little Beads.

That is why I am continuing the project here, now, in this way. Quite simply, I am continuing on with this project because I realize now how Those Little Beads are so powerful that they can connect people and change lives and with much power much responsibility is given.



Now, I wish to share one of the most powerful gifts in the world with you, so that you can share it with others.

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