Reflect or Regret? Part 3

As a silver-haired person, I retain the privileges of Reflection or Regrets. I’ve earned this right through years of trials, temptations, and choices. My journal excerpt—Reflect on hope. 

Singleness—After a few decades of marriage, and destruction of the relationship, it ended in divorce. We were relieved and heartbroken.

New life began for me when I joined a Singles group. Being with people with similar life experiences is cathartic. We gave each other hope that life can start over and continue. Most of my post-divorce relationships were formed in that group.

Singles offered classes, workshops, Bible studies, and Divorce Care. Doing all the reading and homework transformed my thoughts about divorce and recovery. I gained hope for my future.

Being single again is scary in general, but more specific—the dating game.

In general, the world changed in twenty-five years. The dynamic of Social Media came into play with online dating. I avoided both for a while.

I learned to go to a movie alone, go to dinner alone, and go camping alone. Alone was no longer a horrible feeling, it was liberating. I remembered who I was before marriage. I decided what I liked and didn’t like, how I wanted my life to be, and what I wanted to do.

When COBRA for my healthcare neared its end, I knew I needed to change jobs and get a career where I earned enough to live on and had my own benefits. I was self-employed as a muralist and while the pay was nice, I did not have healthcare, it was through my ex-husband’s employer.

Own my own home-saved for three years, my teeth took it all away. Started saving for another three years, purchased my home lived there three years. Seems like three is the number for me. I invited Mom.

Remarriage—Twelve years single, work improvements on myself, and living life as big as I wanted brought me a new man who loves me.