I ask my friends to bring me rocks whenever they travel. 

It’s something I’ve done for a couple of years now. Rocks are cheap and don’t take up a lot of space, so if someone brings me back something, it means they thought of me even when they were hundreds of miles away. Sometimes, I get more than a rock, which makes me feel even more special. 

So far, I’ve gotten three rocks (one from Colorado, two from Florida), a postcard from England, some British money, a pinecone and quartz crystal from Arkansas, two magnets (one from San Francisco, one from California) and a seashell from Florida. They sit around various parts of my room, some on my shelves, some on my dresser and some on my side table. From time to time, I glance around and see one of them and it fills my heart with an indescribable sense of joy. 

In times like this, it’s one of the things I’m most thankful for. 

It’s been a long while since I’ve hugged my friends, and for someone as physically affectionate as I am, this lack of contact has been difficult. The little reminders scattered around my room of the people who I love is something that always brings a smile to my face. Someone cared about me enough to bring something back – some even cared enough to spend money on me. Even if they aren’t here with me now, even if I can’t experience the touchy-feely love I live for, I have the tiny pieces of their fondness towards me, captured in small souvenirs and bits of nature.

One day, I hope to have enough small items from enough places to hold them all at once and say I have the world in the palm of my hand. Until then, each object – no matter the size, price or location – serves as another reason to smile. 

Follow Sally (@SParampottil) and @CHSCampusNews on Twitter.