always

January 21, 2020

My very first strap was Always and it caught my attention right away because it reminded me of Harry Potter, which is reason enough to love it, but it soon took on a very different meaning for me. Shortly after I received Always my best friend passed away suddenly from a ruptured brain aneurism. She had been my best friend since middle school. We had been through life’s highs and lows together: she was in my wedding and then she was there when I got divorced. She was there when my son was born and she was there when he was diagnosed with Autism. I know a lot of people imagine finding someone special to grow old with and love forever, but I always imagined we would outlive any significant others and end up being two old cat ladies together, being crazy and silly even when we’re old and grey. Then it all went away in the blink of an eye. I was wearing Always when I found out. I had a really hard time dealing with her passing, but I could wear my strap and remember that she is always with me. No matter how much time passes she will always be my best friend and she will still be there for me and my struggles, she’ll just be in my heart. I gifted her teenage daughter Here For You because I hoped it could convey all that I was feeling but couldn’t put in to words at the time. She told me later that she could wear it every day with the design out so no one knew what it meant to her, but when she was having a hard time she could look at the message and remember that she had people who loved her and would be there for her. It was with these two straps that I realized how immensely each strap can speak to you on a personal level. I lost my best friend but I found a community in ZOX. I get on ZOX VIP every day and read through peoples stories; I share in their struggles and their joys, I voice advice or encouragement when I can, and I try to give back to the community that gives me so much. I keep extra ZOX handy in case I see someone who could use a particular message that the strap can bring. I was lucky enough to snag a Blackstar strap numbered 0001 and I found the artist who designed it and I gifted it to her because I knew how much that must have meant to her, and I got so much joy just from sharing in her surprise and excitement. And in return others in the community found out that my son is autistic and that I like to give out Together straps to his teachers, coaches, therapists, etc. and I’ve had a few people send me extra Together straps. ZOX is so much more than a wristband. It’s even more than art you can wear. It’s a statement. It’s a daily reminder. It's encouragement. It’s a way to remember. It’s a gift, a way to spread happiness and love. And it’s a community, a community that has helped me more than it will ever know.