Breaking up, is as the song goes, hard to do.  There are both emotional and physical reminders of the time you spent together. The emotional break-up often takes longer than the physical changes you can make ,but the process of cleaning out the old can be a helpful start.

The most intimate reminder of a relationship is the children born out  of that union, and that is a whole other issue ,but  another intimate reminder is jewelry.  Jewelry usually symbolizes special occasions or ceremonies (such as wedding rings) and it sits next to the skin. If you don't wear it,  it sits in a drawer and can haunt you everytime you open it.  Wearing it can be painful even when you have stones reset.

If putting on those old rings and necklaces doesn't work for you, there are alternatives to help with the process of letting go.

• For some, resetting the stones and making a new piece to wear is a  transformative process.
• If remaking the jewelry feels like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear; try selling it at a service such as:   www.outofyourlife.com/   Check to see if it makes financial sense or not. You might want to get an independent appraisal first and see what other services or consignment stores in your area are available.
• Save anything that you think your children might want some day. This doesn't always work unless it is a family heirloom. Your children might not want to be reminded of their parents divorce either, so selling it might make the most sense.
• Give it away to someone you don't have to see wear it.

It doesn't have to be a bad break-up to want to make room for something new. Whether it is a divorce, or a death that brings you to this decision, letting go of material things can provide you with a ritual and reminder that you have a present and future without them.

 For more info about parenting, relationships or behavior visit me @:  messylife.typepad.com/my_weblog/