Confronted to Expression

After a day filled with challenges, my credit card stopped working, my iPad broke down, I lost my shoes, and a dog bit me on my morning run. I longed for a moment of calm. A space to express, accept, and soothe the thoughts I was carrying.

Walking along the beach, I noticed a man painting stones. Drawn to the simplicity of the act, I approached him and asked if I could join. With a warm smile, he said, “Of course, sweetheart.” He, too, was from Canada, and hearing that familiar endearment felt like a small embrace from home.

As I picked up a brush, I felt a sense of ease, as if the world’s messages were flowing through me onto the stone. Painting after so long felt like a return to something sacred. It was calming, grounding, connecting.

As we painted, he told me about The Happy Hugger, a necklace his father had created. Its magic, he explained, was simple: each time you hug someone, it spreads luck and love to both the giver and receiver. When we finished, he gifted me one of these necklaces and sealed its energy with a hug.

For those couple of hours, his presence felt warm,

familiar, kind, and exactly what I needed. As I walked away, I carried that feeling with me, a quiet glow that lasted the rest of the day.