What is in My Wallet?

According to poet John Ciardi, “People are what summons their attention,” and in my “ideal” wallet I would carry three items that especially reflect who I am and what I deeply value. First, I always keep in my wallet a buffalo-imprinted souvenir penny bought during a family trip to Yellowstone National Park. Reflecting my love of nature, this penny brings back fond memories of exploring colorful landscapes, hiking challenging trails, and viewing native animals, such as bison and deer, up close. The souvenir cent symbolizes my love of travel and adventure, but most of all, it captures the carefree time I spent with my brother before he left for college. Besides my shiny buffalo coin, I carry a family jade stone passed down from my grandfather to my dad and now to me. Generation after generation, this keepsake jade has embodied a father’s love for his son, and the stone’s moon shape mirrors my favorite activity with my dad, which is viewing the stars and planets in the night sky. Lastly, green happens to be my favorite color, and it symbolizes my intense interest in protecting the environment and keeping our world healthy for future mankind. Finally, tucked away safely in my wallet is a green locking shoelace used in running. When I run, I am relaxed, and I feel a sense of freedom. Running provides me with the solitude where I can think clearly and furthermore gives me both a physical and emotional outlet for my stress. I enjoy the challenge of doing the best that I can in this sport, and I feel a sense of accomplishment when my times improve the more I practice. Moreover, running reminds me of my bond with my teammates, and the races foster camaraderie as we cheer enthusiastically for each other. Clearly, ordinary objects take on special meanings because of the memories and values we attach to these items.