The ring I ordered the day after Thanksgiving finally arrived. I immediately slipped it on my finger. I selected this particular ring for two reasons: it has a definite boho style to it, and the silver band is made from a feather, my symbol for 2018.
The ring is bestowed with significance for me already. The feather design will be a constant reminder of the journey I am on this year. As I moved through my day, a story arose around the ring that makes it even more…dare I say it?….precious to me.
The story began this morning with a quote that arrived in my email box.
“To be responsible, keep your promises to others. To be successful, keep your promises to yourself.” Marie Forleo
I was struck with the truth of that statement. I quit setting goals on January 1, years ago. Instead, I choose to immerse myself in the flow of life, engaging passionately with others, acting on the opportunities that are presented to me and navigating through the challenges that appear.
My goals have shifted into promises that I make to myself and to the Divine, and they begin with a simple premise…stay in the flow and trust that it will carry me to where I need to go. It’s not that I don’t make plans. However, they are released to the Divine as desires of my heart, as promises. And then I let go of the outcome. I stay open to possibilities, and act on the next thing I need to do, as it is presented.
My trips to Italy, Ireland, Scotland and England last year began as desires, as promises, made to myself and to others, to travel. The Italy trip was five years in coming together. The UK trip came together in a year. I took each step as the way opened before me, as did the family members who traveled with me, until we boarded those international flights.
I looked up the word promise this afternoon, to see its origin. Promise comes from the Latin words pro, meaning “forward”, and mittere, meaning “send”. Promittere – promise -to send forward or put forth. My heart beat faster when I discovered the literal meaning. A promise is sending something forward, putting something out there.
That is what I am doing, when I make these promises to myself…I am sending something forward before it is made manifest. I am putting my dreams and desires out there. And then acting on the guidance I am given. What a beautiful meaning the word promise holds for me now.
Looking at my ring, the significances suddenly all connected together. Promise rings are frequently given to represent love, and a commitment to a future long term relationship. That commitment may turn into a marriage. However, it can also signify a forever friendship or an eternal bond between a parent and a child.
My ring is a promise ring, that I have given to myself. It represents a commitment I am making to myself, to honor and cherish my heart, mind, body and spirit. I promise to care for myself, to continually learn and grow, and to seek to raise my awareness ever higher. I promise to listen to myself, to love and accept myself, and be gracious, so I can love and accept others, while being gracious to them.
And in keeping with the theme for this year, I make a promise to myself, and to the Divine, to see the Larger Story, to communicate my own story with transparent authenticity, and to share the stories of others with compassion.
I am so grateful that I was drawn to this special piece of jewelry. At the time, it was pretty and it represented my symbol. I had no idea, yet, the truth the silver feather would bring to me. I wear it with a heart full of wonder and joy.
With this ring…as my reminder…I will be mindful of my promises and what I am quite literally sending forward. I pinky swear.
