During my recent holiday in Chennai, I found myself walking along a serene beach, where tiny pieces of shells scattered across the sand caught my attention. With my 7-year-old’s excitement bubbling beside me, we began collecting these treasures together. Each shell he picked came with a burst of joy as he ran over, dropped it in my hand, and hurried off to find the next one. Soon, we had a lovely collection tucked away in a summer hut.

Fast forward to a cozy evening in London. With Manchester United and Liverpool playing in the background (my husband and son glued to the game), I decided to let the shells take me back to the holiday. I put on some calming music, and piece by piece, this necklace was born—a tribute to the magical moments spent on the Chennai beach.

If there’s one thing the holiday taught me, it’s to take more. More time to soak in new places, chat with strangers, enjoy local food, and collect tiny pieces of joy like these shells. Because a holiday doesn’t just end when you leave; it leaves you with memories that find their way into your everyday life—sometimes in the form of a necklace.

This piece is a reminder to take time for yourself. Go book your next holiday. 🌊✨