Daruma Nesting Dolls

One night, Boyfriend surprised me with two Daruma nesting dolls. A Daruma doll is a traditional Japanese gift or toy meant to symbolize good luck and encouragement. When you receive a doll, it has two white eyes. The recipient makes a goal for himself, draws in one of the eyes and displays the doll in a spot where they can see it often. The missing eye is a reminder to continue to strive for the goal's completion. When the goal is achieved, the recipient will draw in the other eye.

A Matryoshka or Russian nesting doll, is a series of similarly shaped dolls that stack and fit into each other. The doll(s) that Boyfriend gave me combined the two traditions. The Daruma dolls stack into each other and each have their own set of white eyes.

Boyfriend came up with the idea for the two of us to participate in. I will make a big goal for myself and a small one, while boyfriend makes a big and small goal for me, vise versa. We each will try to achieve all four goals by the end of the year. It's kind of like a cooperative New Years resolution. Wish us luck!

-Akemi-chan