This I Believe

The Norse rune Dagaz (equivalent to the English letter D) is a symbol for the new day. It looks like two triangles touching at one point, much like a butterfly or a crude version of the infinity symbol. I remember becoming enraptured by Norse runes after reading a children's book on mythology, and Dagaz enthralled me by far the most. Its design is beautiful and infinite; however, its symbolism is what really appealed to me. You see, I believe in new beginnings. As a matter of fact, I wrote a This I Believe essay, decided I hated it, and started from scratch. Thank goodness for second chances.

When I was a senior in high school, I found a necklace engraved with Dagaz at the Navy Pier in Chicago. It was mine for a mere nine dollars; it was a favorite souvenir from that choir trip. I had always wanted a fresh start; I had lived in the same small town my entire life. When you're unpopular in a small town, your reputation precedes you. I always thought moving somewhere new would give me the chance to make friends and shed my past like a snakeskin. College was fast approaching, and I knew it would offer me just that opportunity.

During the summer before I left for college, I met a new group of friends while playing the lead role in a play called Groovy. Among these new friends was my first girlfriend, Carrie. She was beautiful. She was also sort of dating Colin. Or she had been. Or she was. It was kind of sketchy. I'm not quite sure how this awkward love triangle started, but what I do know is that one night Colin got really upset--presumably because Carrie broke up with him to date me. He told Carrie he was going to kill himself. She called me, crying. I immediately got in the car and drove thirty minutes to pick up Carrie, and together we went to Colin's house.

Luckily, he hadn't done anything serious to hurt himself. But the damage was done. Carrie and I didn't last much longer. That same night, I hugged Colin and gave him my Dagaz necklace. I told him I was sorry that I had gotten involved with the girl he liked, and that I hoped it wouldn't ruin our friendship. I also told him I wanted us to have a new beginning to our friendship.

Colin and I never really got close after that, and Carrie started dating another friend, Mike. It hurt at first, and suddenly I understood Colin's reaction. But I just told myself that it's time for a new beginning. Being away at college, I got to meet a lot of new people and make some true friendships. Years later, I would get to reinvent myself once again when I started working at summer camp in Massachusetts, and yet again when I moved to North Carolina to teach. I value new beginnings; I believe everyone deserves freedom from the pitfalls of the past.

Each of my tattoos has a significant meaning to me, and the one on my left leg is no different. It is the Norse rune Dagaz, and it reminds me that no matter how bad life may seem, it will get better. I just need to go to sleep, wake up, and appreciate the beauty of the new day.