1 in 400,000,000,000,000. One in four hundred trillion.

That's the number geneticists have given reflecting the odds of you being born.

I don't know about you, but that number is so incredibly mind-boggling to me that it's honestly a bit hard to even comprehend. But the more I think about it, I have to admit - I feel pretty darn special to be here.

And I think that's what makes this world we live in so amazing - each of us has our own set of talents, experiences, and stories to tell.

But in this blog, I wanted to take that idea a bit further. You see, I think a lot of us don't really feel 1 in 400 trillion special. We let our minds get the best of us and continue to get pulled back into our past.

It reminds me of the parable of the prodigal son:

There was once a father who had two sons. One day, the younger son asked his father for his share of the inheritance early, so he could go off and see the world. The father, though heartbroken, agreed and gave him his share. The younger son set off on his journey, leaving his family and home behind.

The younger son quickly squandered all of his money on wild living and ended up destitute, working as a servant in a foreign land. At this point, he realized he had made a huge mistake and decided to return home, hoping his father would at least let him work as a servant in his house.

When the prodigal son returned home, expecting his father to be angry and disappointed, he was instead met with open arms and a loving embrace. The father was overjoyed to have his son back and immediately called for a celebration to honor his return.

Now, the older son, who had been dutifully working for his father all these years, was upset by this. He couldn't understand why his father would celebrate the return of his irresponsible brother. But the father explained to him that his love for both of his sons was unconditional, and that the return of the lost son was a cause for celebration because he had found his way back home.

So, why is this story so important? Well, I don't know about you but I relate more to the older son here, so I'll address it from that point. I feel like I've worked diligently my entire life, and thinking that someone else could purposely go and squander what they were given, just to be welcomed back to the exact same status as me feels unfair.

But then it hits me - everyone makes mistakes. Even the older son is not perfect, and yet he too is loved by the father just the same. This is reflective of our own journeys, isn't it? We all have a story that makes us unique - both to the world and to the way we see ourselves in our own minds.

That last part is important - the way we see ourselves. I think a lot of times, we believe we're not special because we know all the details of our story. All the little things we messed up on that feel like they preclude us from being happy - from deserving joy or love or respect.

But think about it again: The likelihood of you being here is 1 in 400 Trillion. It is unfathomable that you are not here for a reason, with your exact set of unique gifts, talents and stories to share. And that's really my hope for this week's design - that it reminds you to be proud of exactly who you are.

The intricate artwork featured in this special design, the very last of our blue-stitched blog releases, is a celebration of our individuality, showcasing the beauty and complexity that lies within each of us.

On the center of each design is a small clam shell - one that signifies the creation of pearls. Just like in nature, I believe that each of us have the ability to take our story and turn it into something truly beautiful. I hope this ZOX inspires you to do just that.

Big Hugs!
Jason

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