Breaking up with someone is never easy, especially if the relationship has been serious enough to include an engagement. After the pain of the break-up subsides, you may not know what to do with the engagement ring. You may wonder if it is okay to keep the ring or if you should return it to your ex-partner.
The decision of what to do with the engagement ring is a personal one. You may want to hang onto the ring as a reminder of the commitment you once made, or you may want to turn the page and move on. There are a variety of options to consider when deciding what to do with the engagement ring after a breakup, and each option can help you in the process of healing and moving on.
Keeping the Ring
If you and your ex-partner are on good terms and there was no major conflict or trauma involved in the break-up, keeping the ring can be a great way to remember your past relationship. The engagement ring symbolizes the promise you made to your partner, and keeping the ring can bring you comfort and ease the process of moving on from the breakup.
It may help you to keep the ring if you find that you have a positive association with it. If you have kept the ring in a special place, like a jewelry box, holding the ring and looking at it may remind you of the happy times you spent with your partner. If you have not kept the ring in a special place, or if you are not sure what to do with the ring, you may want to talk to your partner about what he or she would like to do with the ring.
Re-Gifting The Ring
If you and your ex-partner are on good terms and the break-up was not a major conflict, re-gifting the ring is a great way to turn the break-up into something positive. Re-gifting the ring allows you to help someone else with what you may have wanted to do with the ring in the first place: use it to propose to the person you would like to spend the rest of your life with.
You may want to re-gift the ring to someone you are already close with, like a sibling or friend. You may also want to re-gift the ring to someone who is in a serious relationship, like a co-worker or a relative. Re-gifting the ring allows you to turn the break-up into something positive by helping someone else to get engaged. It can also be a great way to feel like you are moving on from your past relationship while still being able to keep the ring as a keepsake.
Donating The Ring
If your break-up was a major conflict, or if you and your ex-partner are not on good terms, donating the ring can be a great way to turn a negative experience into something positive. You may feel like you are getting rid of the past and moving on from the negative energy of the break-up by donating the ring.
You can donate the ring to a variety of organizations that use the money raised from donations for good causes. You can donate the ring to a charity in your partner’s name, or you can donate it to a charity that your partner would support. You can also donate the ring to an engagement ring charity. Engagement ring charities accept donated rings and then sell them to help other people in need.
You may want to donate the ring to a charity that supports a cause that you and your partner both supported in the past. This can help you to move on from the breakup and channel the negative energy into something positive.
Returning The Ring
If you and your ex-partner are not on good terms, or if the break-up was a major conflict, you may want to return the ring. This may be easier if you know that your partner would prefer you to return the ring, but it may be harder if you would like to keep the ring. You may want to return the ring if you feel like keeping it would cause you to be held back from moving on from the breakup.
You may feel like keeping the ring would be like holding on to the past and feeling like you are stuck in your relationship. You may also want to return the ring if your partner asks you to. If your ex-partner is trying to end the relationship and move on, he or she may not want to keep the ring as a reminder of the past. If you want to return the ring but do not know how you can ask your ex-partner what he or she would like you to do with the ring.
Healing And Moving On
Whether or not you decide to keep the ring or return it, you may find that it is difficult to let go of the past relationship. Break-ups take time, and you may find that it is helpful to have a plan for how you will move on from the breakup. This may include finding healthy ways to cope with the pain of the breakup, like practicing self-care or getting support from others. It may also include setting goals for how you want to move on from the breakup.
You may want to celebrate the ending of the relationship by doing something that you have always wanted to do, like going on a vacation or eating at your favorite restaurant. Whatever you decide to do, having goals and a plan for how you want to move on from the breakup can help you to feel more control over the situation and speed up the process of healing.