My writing mentor once shared her way of celebrating a finished piece: she buys herself a bracelet. I loved the idea of buying commemorative jewelry for one’s self and took it up. Thanks to Project 333, I’ve purged any jewelry from my collection that lacks real sentimental value, and these bracelets are, after a few pieces from Neal and my family, among the most sentimental of my jewelry. Each of them represents an accomplishment that is important to me: visiting New Mexico for the first time to see if I thought I could move there all alone; completing my first MFA workshop; defending my dissertation; completing and workshopping a new draft of my novel; finishing a novel in November of 2009 as part of NaNoWriMo.
Sometimes I wear one bracelet, sometimes I wear all of them. I often pile them on when I know I have a challenging task ahead of me. They remind me of all I have managed to accomplish, all that I am capable of achieving. They make me feel like Wonder Woman.
Do you have any physical reminders of your potential? Share a story or a link to your blog in the comments!
I recently bought a finger ring. It is simple and pounded silver. I wear it around the finger I would point at someone with . I wear it to remind myself to listen more, talk less, and remember no one asked for my advice….it helps
I adore this!
Those bracelets are lovely and that’s a wonderful way to commemorate your accomplishments. I bought stackable rings from the jewelry designer on etsy that you recommended (I can’t remember her name) and they are supposed to remind me to take care of myself and exercise.
I’ve been slowly adapting Project 333 also — I need to document better and also purge my wardrobe, but right now I am meeting bills (barely, thank you economy) and it isn’t practical to replace things with more useable pieces. So I’ve been knitting more!
Lately I’ve purchased a couple of items with birds on them to remind me to get off my behind and get my etsy site up and working. Meeting with someone next week about a graphic, so something’s working!
Not potential – but I have three (used to be four but one broke and I haven’t gotten it fixed yet) – that I wear all day, every day. One is a bracelet D got me on a business trip. It’s delicate and always reminds me that he thinks of me when he’s away. One is a bracelet he got me for some anniversary or birthday. It’s heavier and industrial. I like the sort of badass quality. One is the charm bracelet I agonized over buying and then purchased in Ireland. The charms no longer have the matte finish. The writing on them is starting to wear down. However, between that memory and the ones of L playing with the charms from the time he was a tiny baby through now – fingering them, rubbing the writing, flicking them around – it’s my way of linking past and future.
I love this idea!
I tend to wear one of two necklaces given to me by beloved friends to remind myself that I’m not in it alone and that I do have amazing people in my corner.