“The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us," said Terri Marshall. In this time of year, many people are bustling around trying to figure out what they will get their family members and friends for holiday gifts. In the spirit of giving and remembering those in need during this time of year, it’s a great idea to think about supporting companies that give back and strive to make a difference in the lives of others.

A company that I really love is The Giving Keys. Their mission is to help the homeless by employing those that are transitioning out of homelessness. They are partnered with several nonprofit organizations to make the mission possible and provide employment opportunities. These include Chrysalis, LIFT and Downtown Women’s Center. The company began when Caitlin Crosby, an actress and singer/songwriter, wore a key from her hotel room as a necklace while she was on tour. It inspired her with the idea for The Giving Keys; her idea was to sell old keys engraved with meaningful words. She realized, “We are all like these keys-unique, flawed, scarred, and sometimes discarded by others.”

When purchasing a key, it is important to choose an engraving that has a personal, special meaning to you. There are many choices, such as strength, love and hope. There is also the option to choose a custom word. Regardless of what the engraving is, it should represent a message you want to embrace and it should serve as a reminder to live out the message every day. Eventually, when you feel you are ready and the message has soaked into your soul, you can pass the key on to someone who could use that message in his or her life even more than you.

I have worn my key necklace since graduating from high school this past May. My custom word is “weave”, which I often receive many questions about. This word is very special to me because it reminds me to always “weave” my old lessons, memories, experiences and all that is a part of my past into each new day in my life. It seems that once you move away from home, the things that you were so comfortable with and accustomed to don’t necessarily physically come along with you; with my key on my neck, I remember to always incorporate my past into the present moment and be thankful for all that I have in my life. I’m not sure when I will pass on my message and who will receive it; perhaps that will be a story for another day! In the meantime, the website, www.thegivingkeys.com, features many entries from people who have shared their personal stories about passing it forward.

Purchasing a giving key this holiday season is certainly worth the buy; to me, it is so much more than just any ordinary piece of jewelry and its significance goes beyond its tangible appeal. It has the potential to have an impact on so many people and make a positive difference in so many lives.