I don't know what to do with the pictures..

[Purple*Lotus]

Monday is the anniversary of when I left my abusive STBX. I would really like to purge the negative energy out of the place I live right now. I still have a box here with our wedding pictures in it, plus I have a ton of pictures of us on the computer.

I don't have any children, so there isn't really any reason that I need pictures from my wedding. Ideally I would burn them, but that wont be possible this weekend and I really want them gone before Monday. I was thinking that I could just throw them away, as garbage day is Monday as well.

I need some closure. I worry that I will regret doing this one day, though. So I am trying to wrap my brain around that.

Has anyone BTDT? I am going back and forth on this.

[wednesday2004]

I shredded my ex's pictures and have no regrets. The pictures that you like that just happen to have him in also, just trim him out of there, instant picture improvement.

[Momma Moo Martin]

I've tossed pictures out before - lots of them! No regrets. There's no need to hold space in your home or your heart for all of that. Just wondering...do you ever open up your windows and burn sage to clear out negative energy? Works wonders.

[Purple*Lotus]

There are cucumbers growing in our brush pile right now- long story - so I can't burn them this weekend. I have never tried burning sage, stupid question, but where would I find some?

[DeerMother]

I put my second wedding album in the trash Monday.

You could throw most away and save a few for a small scale burn. You could shred or rip them. You could put them in a box, run over them, then throw it away. I don't usually endorse littering, but you could toss them off a bridge into a body of water or sewer. If there was some location he hated, you could dispose of the pics there.

My first marriage was abusive and we did not have children. I burned our wedding pics and other stuff on what would have been our first anniversary. That was ten years ago and I have never regretted it. Rather, the sense of empowerment I got from the ritual helped me close that chapter.

[DeerMother]

Originally Posted by Bunnyflakes

There are cucumbers growing in our brush pile right now- long story - so I can't burn them this weekend. I have never tried burning sage, stupid question, but where would I find some?

Head shops, new age stores. My health food store has it too. White safe comes in a little wrapped bundle.

You can also fill a bowl with salt, then pour alcohol on the salt. Ignite. I haven't tried it, but it's supposed to vortex the bad energy out of a room.

[mamalisa]

You can start a fire in anything, coffee can, a grill, on a few layers of foil, neighbors fire pit.

I do kind of like the idea of tossing them in the garbage though. Picturing them getting wet and ruined, then rotting away would be a good image for me.

[Purple*Lotus]

My Dad was totally on board with my burning them when I mentioned it a few months ago. I will check with him again and see if we can arrange it.

[Purple*Lotus]

Well the fire thing is not possible this weekend, I talked to my Dad.

I am going to just throw them away as I find them. I should have the bulk of them going out in Monday's garbage. Fire kind of scares me anyway, so maybe this is for the best. I really don't want to wait until fall to be rid of them.

I also found my wedding rings today.

[Tradd]

As for the rings, since you're in a tight spot financially, what about taking them to a jeweler and selling them, putting the money towards your medical bills?

[Purple*Lotus]

Originally Posted by Tradd

As for the rings, since you're in a tight spot financially, what about taking them to a jeweler and selling them, putting the money towards your medical bills?

They were only around $200 together when we bought them. Do you think they would be worth anything if I sold them? I am embarrassed to admit how cheap my wedding set was.

[Tradd]

Hey, take whatever you can get since it doesn't sound like you're getting much of STBX! Gold is worth more now.

[Purple*Lotus]

He lost his job after he went to jail. I lost my medical insurance that way. As far as I know he still isn't working. I am so thankful that I did not have children with that man. He would not be able to support them.

[Purple*Lotus]

Okay so I found the scrapbooks. I am stressing. I mean, I feel like I am about to toss out a huge chunk of my life. Which I am, about nine years of it.

[MariaMadly]

Originally Posted by Bunnyflakes

Okay so I found the scrapbooks. I am stressing. I mean, I feel like I am about to toss out a huge chunk of my life. Which I am, about nine years of it.

No. You are about to take the next step in reclaiming it.

[Purple*Lotus]

Originally Posted by MariaMadly

No. You are about to take the next step in reclaiming it.

Thank you for saying that. It is making this process a lot easier!

[Purple*Lotus]

I have four scrapbooks done. I had to go through and take out the pictures of my family that I wanted to keep. I also cut STBX out of the pics of me and Alton Brown.

I think I will take my wedding gown to Goodwill on Monday. My Mom will freak if she finds out, but it is not really her choice. I plan to just not mention it.

I am kind of wanting to go to where I was married on Monday and throw my wedding ring in to the water fall. That is littering, though. But that is what I want to do with it.

[Purple*Lotus]

Okay I am done. All of the pictures I have of him are in a trash bag right now. I did not take the ones of him bringing our cat to Show N Tell out of my teaching album, though. So I still have a couple to remember what he looks like should I ever want to remember.

I will carry the bag to the curb myself tomorrow evening.

I feel tremendous relief right now that it is over.

[Baby~Braatens~Mama]

Congratulations!

[Stephenie]

i am sure that was an emotional process for you.

I'd sell the rings and the dress. You may as well get some money out of it. I mean even if it only is enough to pay one bill one time, you've benefited from it, right?