[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by LeeH

One year later...

Here's a post I put up on the Facebook divorce support group I joined shortly after my wife left. COMPLETELY changed my life!

"I've started, edited, and erased this post more times than I'll admit to. It's too easy to start adding details that would result in this becoming a novel. Here's the "short" version...
One year ago tonight, I asked my wife of 21 years if everything was alright. She was unusually distant, but wouldn't tell me why. All she said was that we needed to go out to dinner the next night to have a talk.
She told me the next night over dinner that she was leaving me. I knew she had been unhappy to some degree off and on for years, but found it hard to believe this was really happening. She always said that her finding happiness was her responsibility and not mine. I had dedicated my life to our little family of three, to helping her further her flying career. I really couldn't imagine what life would look like going forward. Counseling (again), begging, pleading. They all came to mind as I sat in the restaurant fighting back the tears (which would be given free rein later). No. My final gift to her was an easy exit. I vowed to take the high road throughout the process.

Fast forward to one year later and life is GREAT! Through a conscious effort on both our parts, our divorce was easy, amicable, and completed using mediation. We remain on excellent terms and get along fine with an easy, handshake arrangement coparenting our 17 year old daughter.
Through some miracle, I tripped across this group and have made lifelong friendships that energize me daily. I can't believe that a few minutes browsing Meet Up looking for a way to connect with fellow human beings changed my life so much.

Though amicable, the chaos and upheaval of divorce was difficult. But, by any measure, my life is truly happier now than it was a year ago. In fact, thanks to personal growth and the connections I've made here, I really feel like I'm happier now than I've ever been. To those of you in the thick of it, keep looking forward. Maybe a year from now, you'll look back and also declare you're living the happiest moments of your life."

Lee how did your daughter handle the break up?