shedding

“The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let the dead things go.” ~Anonymous

In 2005, I purchased a ring for myself. But it was more than just a ring — it the first piece of real jewelry I had purchased for myself.

A portion of the funding for the ring had come from trading in of a small diamond promise ring from my ex. The relationship had been had been long and tumultuous and, although we were still civil and would eventually even become friends, it was imperative to my healing that I rid myself of the promise ring. Trading it in/up for the new ring — dubbed my “freedom ring” — was a bonus.

This past weekend, 12 years later, as I was going through my jewelry as part of our continued quest to minimize and simplify, I added the freedom ring to the get-rid-of pile. This was not an easy decision and one that had taken me years to arrive at, but it was time.

You see, I’m not much of a multi-ring person and now that I have the pleasure and honor of wearing a beautiful diamond representing the love my fiance and I share, I no longer need the freedom ring. It’s not that I’m ushering out my independence with my engagement — far from it. But, the reminder of what that ring stood for — strength, independence, bravery, vulnerability and the beginning of new life — is no longer a necessity.

In all honesty, I haven’t worn the ring for years. I’m not sure quite when it happened, but at some point, I just didn’t need it anymore. I was beyond the daily reminder. It had done its job.

While certainly tied to our larger minimalism goal, I think the decision was also prompted by this time of year. Nature is a wonderful reminder to shed what no longer serves us. Each fall, the trees release their leaves to prepare and optimize for the cold winter months. And now, it’s time to shed my life of the ring to make room for the next stage of my life and what will serve me there.