By early afternoon I was strolling along some of the most chic streets of Madrid, not knowing how I´d found them, but being grateful I finally had. The sunshine warmed my short-short wearing legs and I may have strutted a bit with my big sunglasses on, blissful as can be to have a day to do whatever I pleased in one of my favorite cities with such perfect weather after such an amazing Saturday!!
I passed by adorable, classy cafes that I´d only dreamed existed in this city. I took pictures of gorgeous dresses and window displays of the hoity-toity shops. I snuck peeks at all of the impecabily dressed women only a few years older than me, with their stunning high heels and floral sundresses. I strutted down that street, pretending that I was one of them - minus the bank account and plus humble gratitute for the simple things in life. ;)
After an hour or two of this casual stroll, I ran into a neighborhood I´d been in my first day in Madrid two years ago and found a Tous shop open! I´d been not-so-secretly wanting a Tous ring since sometime in March, yet always found a way to resist. But today? Today, I told myself, was the day. I would celebrate the completion of my thesis and Master´s degree with a little, shiney present for myself. :) Because I love me. Sometimes possibly more than most people might find rational...
I walked in confidently (I never like being the only person in an exclusive type store - much less when I know I´ll have to speak in a foreign language) and took my time looking at all of the rings. When I found the one I´d been wanting, I let out a tiny squeal and quickly tried to regain my composure. I asked the lady to see it and as soon as I tried it on, I told her I´d take it! She wrapped it up in a cute little pink box with a bell and put it in an adorable pink bag. And just like that, I went from only having one tiny Tiffany & Co. ring on my hand to having two again! :)
When I make a relatively big purchase, I never do so just because. I always have a deeper reason behind it. And this time was no different. Back in 2011, the week before departing to Spain, I´d purchased my tiny Tiffany & Co. ring. I´d purchased it as a promise to myself to make every minute in Spain count and not to be scared and not to be sad about leaving J behind. I´d purchased it as a declaration of adaventure and self-love, even though I wasn´t feeling very adventurous nor self-confident in the slightest (as evidenced when I decided to pierce my lip the night before leaving for Spain!). For the first few weeks, I would look at my new little ring and try to imagine what my Spanish adventure would be like, and wonder if I would ever see J again and try not to totally lose it. I tried to repeat the words Eric had told me when we´d met up for drinks and I tried to believe in his wisdom when he smiled right before we parted ways and assured me it would be an amazing summer.
And, of course, it was. In fact, it was undoubtedly the BEST summer of my life.
So this new ring? This is the ring that proclaims that it´s okay to feel scared sometimes, but that everything will work
out in mysterious ways and things will be even better than I could
imagine. I purchased it almost exactly two years from the date I purchased my Tiffany ring and I feel like it retroactively answers the fears for which the first ring was purchased. It´s my way of going back to 22 year old Chelsea the week before her trip and whispering, ¨You are in for the biggest adventure of your life that will change EVERYTHING. It´s okay to be afraid, but know that you don´t need to be - not at all!¨
As it turned out, it was the perfect time to purchase this second ring, as Sunday was my last day of feeling this high of accomplishment and security for a little while. But all I have to do is look down at my hands and smile. I´ve been in the position of great fear of the unknown before - and what followed was breathtaking. I can be in this position again.
Bring it on.
XOXO
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