The first time I went to Thailand I was running away from a marriage that had gone horribly wrong.

The second time I was running from my divorce.

This time I was just there. Healthy. Whole. Curled up in a lounge chair by the pool reading my guilty pleasure, a trashy romance novel.

Five years ago, I honestly wasn’t sure I was ever going to feel normal again. I didn’t know if it was possible for a day to go by when I didn’t think of “him.” I was consumed by guilt and if onlys. I wanted my life back so badly that there were days I thought I would scream with the unfairness of it all.

I wanted to move on, but I didn’t know how.

My answer was to travel. I escaped into the backpacking world of Southeast Asia for seven months. I drank too much, slept with waaay to many boys with accents (it’s a weakness) and danced away many a night on the beach. I saw incredible sunrises over ancient ruins in Cambodia. I spent ten days at a silent retreat in Thailand searching for answers. I scootered through rice paddies in Vietnam, marveling at the beauty of our world.

In the end I returned home still not fully healed, but closer then when I started.

Over the next few years I read every self-help book I could find, saw a therapist, traveled more, journaled, meditated. It seemed like for every step forward I would take two more back.

I didn’t know it would be so hard. I was determined to learn from my divorce. To make it a positive experience and to become a better, stronger, more independent person. I had good days and bad, but I always focused on my goal.

This last week as I looked up from my novel and breathed in the salty ocean air I had one of those moments when my body relaxed, and I was infused with a sense of genuine peace. I looked around and thought,

“All is right in my world. I am alright. Actually, I am more than alright. I am amazing.”

I couldn’t give you an exact date that it all came together. I don’t have an anniversary circled in red marked: “The day Julie was finally over her divorce.”

It was a process.

It took hard work and determination. There were days of crying and screaming at the universe.

Days when I wanted to give up and curl into a little ball in bed and never get up.

Days when I was so angry at myself for not just being able to get over it and move on.

Now, looking back at the journey, I wouldn’t change a thing.

I am so proud of who I have become. When I was married I was one dimensional. I hadn’t lived life. I relied on my husband and the safety net of my marriage. Now, I’ve been all over the world. 68 countries to be exact. I have sat down with strangers all over the world. Hiked up snow covered volcanos. Trekked to Machu Picchu. Sailed around Italy for six weeks working as a nanny. Taught English in Taiwan. Been hit by a bull on the side of a volcano in Ecuador. Danced until sunrise at the Full Moon Party in Thailand. Written a book. Started my own business. Ziplined across a canyon in Bolivia. Packed up my car and drove over 1,700 miles from San Francisco to Austin by myself to start a new life.

I have become the amazing strong independent woman that I so desperately wanted to be.

I don’t know where you are in your divorce journey, but I write this to encourage you. In the middle of it all I would have never believed that I would come out the other side. I want to say to you:

Hold on. Keep taking those baby steps forward. It is a process—and often a really hard one, but it is so worth the reward. You will thrive. You will become the woman you were meant to be.

I know. Someday (hopefully soon) you will have that moment when you look up and say, “I’m alright. Actually, I am more than alright. I am amazing.”

If you are struggling to move forward from your divorce just stop and take a moment to be grateful. I know it is hard, but think of five good things that have come from your breakup and then go do something really good for yourself. You will feel better. I promise. Baby steps.

And I know you might not be feeling it right now, so I will say it for you.

You are alright. You are more than alright. You are amazing.

 

 

Relephant: 

Divorce Doesn’t Need to be a Four Letter Word.

 

 

Author:  Julie Morey

Volunteer Editor: Kim Haas / Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Courtesy of author.