Celebrating 7-Years Divorced!

Do you know what happens to me when I see this picture? I smile the biggest, broadest, most heartfelt smile and I feel so f-ing grateful. 

Facebook reminded me that it's my "Divorcaversary." That's right, I'm ***celebrating*** being divorced for 7 years!!! 🥳🎉 I didn't even remember. I didn't even know what date it was today until I opened up my laptop and went to Facebook. But now that I know, you better believe I'll be making myself a celebratory dinner tonight! 

A lot of people have the perspective that divorce is a horrible thing, but not me. Not anymore. It was the best decision that I've ever made. Certainly, it was one of the hardest, most painful decisions I've ever made, too, but I'm still smiling because I did it. I left a marriage that was slowly killing me and I made my own way. I didn't know how I'd take care of 3 kids as a single mother who hadn't really worked in years, but I did it. 

Now it makes sense to me why #Gratitude has been such a focus today. I woke up thinking about what I'm grateful for. I turned on my yoga series and today's practice was a gratitude theme with a journal prompt to write 25 things, people, or experiences that I'm grateful for, so I did that. Then, at my (Create) A Life You Love, Now! Meetup group's Coffee Connections, I kept that theme going and it was a powerful, beautiful group conversation. 

Now, I'm grateful to the Universe for giving me this gift of keeping my attention on gratitude. I'm so grateful for this reminder that today made final a decision that changed my life and my children’s lives for the better. That's right, the divorce was what was best for them, too. Thanks to my courage in taking charge of my life and my experience, they get to have a mother who is happy instead of angry, loved instead of manipulated, who laughs and plays with them instead of being too exhausted from trying to just get through another damn day. 

I’ll never regret marrying that charming Frenchman, not for a day of my life. I’ve traveled the world, lived overseas twice, have 3 of the most incredible human beings as my children, learned how to cook and plate like a boss, and developed a deep appreciation for food, wine, travel, cultures, and freedom. And choice. And perspective. And courage. And joy. And integrity. I could go on for another 7 years filling this page with every beautiful thing that I’ve learned in the 23 years since I said “I do.” But the very best things in my life have happened since I took a courageous step back toward myself and said yes to me, and yes to divorce.

#createalifeyoulove #authentic #integrity #joy #happiness #divorce #relationships #love