Why I Took Out My Nose Ring

Upon reading this title, it may seem inconclusive…frivolous even.

However, this past Monday night, when I took out my nose ring, I was symbolically “ending an era”.

I had gotten my nose pierced on a whim in October 2016. I had just started college a few months before and wanted to try something out of my comfort zone.

I liked it!

So much so, that it stayed on my face for nearly 3 years.

Having had other experiences pushing me out of my comfort zone, I no longer feel the need to have it symbolized on my face.

Now, more than ever, I feel determined, and balanced, in working towards my goals.

I am less in a fight with my present circumstances.

Are they perfect? No.

But I have made peace with them.

I am learning to appreciate each and every part of my journey instead of wishing it away.

I feel more sure of what I want the next chapter of my life to look like.

I feel more sure of the woman I want to be, one that is strong but empathetic, confident but humble, hard-working but balanced, and persistent but patient.

While the nose ring may no longer have real estate on my face, the lessons I learned while it did will stay with me forever.