A Gift to Myself That Keeps on Giving

It wasn’t until a few years ago I started wearing rings. I mean, it was my engagement ring but, still, wearing finger jewelry became apart of my everyday life. I was used to wearing it along with a promise ring. It opened a whole new door for me with jewelry. Since the crash and burn of my nuptials, I have had conversations with my friends about continuing to wear my engagement ring. It was a split crowd— some thought I should continue to wear it in a fashionable sense, and the other half told me to keep that thing in the box.

Now, if you’re new here, you will learn quickly that Vondra will do whatever the hell Vondra wants to do. I honestly didn’t feel right just wearing the ring because it had so much meaning that it marked an extraordinary and happy time in my life. So, I did a thing. I bought myself a ring!

I am a firm believer that self-love comes in all different forms. Some like to pamper themselves with spa days, taking trips, moments of self-reflection, and more. I love to spoil myself with the swipe of my debit card. In moderation, of course. So, last week while shopping for Christmas gifts, I found myself standing in front of my local Pandora store. Being the spontaneous woman that I am, I said, “why not” and walked in. A quick trip to the mall turned into one of the best self-care days I’ve had in a while. I didn’t want to blow a stack on myself even though I knew I deserved it, but I wanted to start small to see how I would feel. I fell in love with the Sparkling Teardrop Halo Ring in Rose Gold. The Pandora attendant who helped me pick the ring picked the perfect opportunity to up-sale me with stackable accents, and I am not mad at it or her. The Sparkling Wishbone Ring became a companion as soon as I fitted it snuggly below the beautiful teardrop.

Sometimes we have to obtain tangible reminders that we are enough despite the fallouts, breakups, failures, and life, not going the way we envisioned. This is a promise ring to myself. A promise that no matter what may come my way, I have a purpose in this world with our without someone by my side, and I will live my life according to what makes me happy. A reminder that it is ok to be selflessly selfish. As I’m pouring myself into others, I need to take the time to pour back into myself. This is a stepping stone, cubic zirconia stepping stone, in the right direction to healing internally.