I think it’s important to question WHY we do things. Before I tell you why I don’t wear my engagement ring, take a trip with me as a get a bit nostalgic…
Page proposed to me at a random New Year’s eve party. I say random, because the only people we knew were the people that came with us. We were dancing and after the song was over( I think it was Michael Jackson) Page pulls out this little box and says, “I love you. Will you be my wife?” Not sure if those are the exact words but, I’m sure he said he loved me because it was the first time in our two years of dating. Naturally, when he proposed, I looked around the room for my friends to see what they thought about this proposition. Now that’s a surprise.
Page and I had been engaged for about 4 months. We were on his annual birthday camping trip. We had been swimming at the lake that day. Later in the evening I looked down and noticed my ring was GONE. I had no idea where it could be, I assumed I lost it in the water earlier that day. We formed a search “partay,” and went to look on the shore at the lake. The ring didn’t turn up. The next day we went back with our two of our friends and a metal detector. After a few hours we were about to give up when our friend exclaimed, “Holy s***, I found the ring!” The ring was, no joke, glistening in knee deep water. We had a dance party by the lake, and then went home to make the best chicken sandwiches.
This ring has more intrinsic value to me than just diamonds and gold.
So why would I stop wearing my engagement ring, the very symbol of when Page and I started our life together?
It’s gaudy.
It calls attention to wealth that I’d rather downplay. It doesn’t sit well with me to bedazzle myself. It’s just a simple solitaire diamond sitting on a thin gold band. I pride myself in wearing Chacos every day, and very little makeup. Sometimes I look like a homely farm girl. I like that. To me it’s being mature. I feel like I am much more approachable.
What would it look like if we stripped down?
Like, just got naked together.
In a material possession sort of way.
You don’t need anymore clothes. You don’t need a new car. Your home doesn’t need a makeover. You don’t need jewelry.
In a practical sense, those things are a waste of money. What really matters?
Taking care of orphans and widows. Loving your neighbor.
Am I hypocrite? Yes.
Page asked me, “Why do you wear your engagement ring?”
My reply, “I’m not sure (thoughtful pause) it doesn’t make any sense. I’m not going to wear it anymore.”
Things to think about:
*This blog also got picked up by Huffington Post, feel free to leave a negative comment.
It’s hard to give a starving child food when you have a thousand dollar ring on your finger. While I don’t agree with everything that Cameron Russell says, her viewpoint is pretty cool.
Yeah, she went off on a white privilege tangent, which I know you don’t completely agree with. But, you can’t deny she is white, pretty, and privileged. I love how she said she was insecure. Women (myself included) seem to think if they just lost 5 lbs, or had abs, or nicer clothes then they would be content.
Both of you get rings Tattooed around your ring fingers, it lets other people know you are married, which is important…but its not gaudy and you can never lose it!
Good idea. But don’t tattoos hurt? I like the never lose it aspect since I have a history of losing small things in large bodies of water.
They hurt a bit, nothing that is gonna kill you. You will be fine. I managed to get one on the side of my rib cage.
so maybe just sell it and give the money you get to feed orphans and support widows? it would do better in action like that than sitting in a drawer, i’d say.
You’re right. For me, the sentimental value is more than I could sell it for. Also, have you tried to sell jewelry? It’s pretty much worthless. My bike would also do better in action but, it sits unused. I ended by saying “I’m a hypocrite” because I am…I spend more than I should, and I have more stuff than I need.-Amber