Yesterday, I received a piece of
jewellery, an inheritance from my husband’s aunt. She had specifically chosen
it for me, and although I have no reason why she chose that particularly piece,
the fact that she must have had a reason makes it extra special. She was
childless, and in recent years, as we’d included her and her husband in family
celebrations and as they saw some of my writings and thoughts on not having
children, I felt that she appreciated us a little more.
I often hear people without
children wonder who will want their stuff. Though if I’m honest, the person
who said that to me most was my mother-in-law, so it isn’t just the childless who
think about such matters. It's all about attitude. I think as a No Kidding, childless, woman, I haven't developed an expectation that I'll be able to leave my treasured possessions to descendants. As I’ve said before, I keep possessions because they’re
important to me, because they bring me joy, not because I want to pass them on.
I don’t need to be remembered through things. I’d rather be remembered for
actions or love or because I made someone feel good one day.
That said, because she chose this
piece – a string of pearls – specifically for me, I’m already figuring out how
to make it contemporary to suit my style. It will be an easy fix, I think, and I’ll wear it with
pride and pleasure. And it will give me pleasure that in the future I can do
that too with one or two of my possessions, for my nieces and nephews, or for
other young people in my life.
