Divorce: Divorce Care Packagemoving on after divorcebreakup bible

I Missed My Wedding Ring After Divorce, So I Replaced It With This

New relationship status, new ring.
By 

Senior Lifestyle Reporter, HuffPost

George Marks via Getty Images

If there's ever a time you need a little distraction in your life, it's during the divorce process. That's why we launched our Divorce Care Package series. With each post, we'll show you what things -- books, movies, recipes -- helped others relieve stress in the midst of divorce, in the hopes that a few of their picks will serve you well too. Want to share what got you through your divorce? Email us at divorce@huffingtonpost.com.

Lisa Dubino finalized her divorce in record time: The marketing consultant filed divorce docs in December 2013. Three months later, the whole legal process was wrapped up.

But the emotional process of moving on after 12 years of marriage took considerably longer.

"You can't rush it," Dubino told HuffPost recently. "You have to practice forgiveness daily for yourself, your ex and others so you can let go of the past and be open to your new life."

Below, Dubino, who lives in North Conway, New Hampshire, shares a few things that helped relieve stress after the divorce.

The Splurge
Lisa Dubino
"I splurged on a ring after my divorce. I wasn’t happy taking off my wedding band and engagement ring. It was a simple yet elegant arrangement and significance aside, I liked wearing them. So I bought myself a ring wide enough to make up for the two. I tried wearing it on my right hand so it wouldn't be mistaken for a wedding band but after a few weeks, I was still reaching for my finger on my left hand in search of my old rings. It was like my finger had been reshaped after 12 years of wearing them. I finally gave in and put my new ring on my left ring finger -- a finger which ancient people believed has a vein that runs directly to one's heart. With that, I decided I was 'married' to myself."
The Song
Wikipedia
"'Miracles' by Jefferson Starship. I had seen the band with my ex-husband a few months before I decided to leave him and couldn’t get the ballad out of my head since the concert. I was 8 years old when the song hit the charts. Forty years later, the lyrics started to resonate with me. I played it every morning for three months straight. My boys would shout, 'Mom, not again!'"
The Hobby
Lisa Dubino
"Knitting was so relaxing and perfect for curbing anxiety after my divorce. With so many unknown variables in the divorce transition, it was a great outlet and really helped to keep me in the present moment. I went big and decided to make myself a sweater. I had to start over a few times and when I finished a year later it wasn’t quite right. So I took it apart again and finished in just months this time around. While I was excited to see the final product, I was also a little emotional about finishing. It was truly a labor of love and a symbol of my new start in life."
The Quote
Lindrik via Getty Images
"'Crisis is opportunity.' A friend said this to me years ago and it has stayed with me as a reminder to focus on the lesson and not the problem."
The Book
RowdyKittens/Flickr
"Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed. I received this book as a gift from my sister. Spot on, sis! It was just what I needed. I felt such a connection. The time frame mirrors my own, as if I could have been on the journey with Strayed, and the stories are wonderful. The book gave me hope, inspiration and the enlightenment I needed to keep the faith and go forward."
The TV Show
AOL
"'Downton Abby' was my night-time soap opera. The post-Edwardian era drama was the perfect distraction from my world. Not only is the imagery beautiful, but the storyline is captivating as well. I had to force myself not to binge watch so that I could savor each episode and have something to look forward to at night."
The Getaway
Bill Lee
"The photo above is the actual view from the top of Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire. I live within walking distance of the resort. In the summer and fall, I hike up weekly and in the winter and spring, I go up with climbing skins and ski down a few times a week. The view of the village with Mt. Washington in the background is quintessential New England and never gets old."
The Food
Photo by Ira Heuvelman-Dobrolyubova via Getty Images
"Spinach smoothies. I did a three-day detox early on in an effort to get more energy. Drinking three smoothies a day worked! I have since incorporated a different variation of whatever I have on hand for a green smoothie almost daily. And I use my Cuisinart Mini Pro Plus food processor so I didn’t have to buy a fancy new mixer. Easy peasy lemon squeezy."

Quotes About Moving On

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