suddenlysinglewomen

Becoming the best version of yourself

The Power of Girlfriends – – –

I think sometimes as “single” women, we think too much or focus too heavily on NOT having a man in our lives.  We look around at all the “couples” and wonder why our marriage didn’t last?  How are we suddenly supposed to operate as a single person in a world full of duo’s?

I’ve just returned from an amazing trip to celebrate an amazing birthday.  Okay – – – I admit it – – – it might have had a “zero” in the birthday year!  The first part of the trip was spent with the GF’s!  The girlfriends had been warned over two years ago to start planning on traveling with me for this very special day and they did not let me down.

9 of us!  There’s a saying, “like herding cats” – it fits, LOL!!  We are about as diverse as it can be yet the one theme that runs through the heart of this group is the appreciation for having girlfriends.  We have different backgrounds, different goals in life.  Our ages span about ten years with me being right in the middle.  Some are married, some divorced, some with significant others.

Half are working, most have children approaching if not already in adulthood and a couple are already grandmothers.  They come from diverse backgrounds but the appreciation of the need for GF’s is strong amongst us all.  So don’t let yourself get too caught up in the search for the perfect man.  Firstly – they don’t exist so you’ll be very disappointed.  But more importantly, look around you at those women who have stayed in your life even if you are the inconvenient “single” friend and cherish your moments together.

Reach out to your GF’s today, let them know how important they are in your life.  Thank them for being there for you.  Whether you just have one or many, they are your strength and your compass.  I can’t imagine my life without them, I hope I never have to.  Love you girls – thanks for the memories!!!

 

 

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Life After Love – – – According to Cher

It’s that time of the year when I seem to be spending a lot more time in my SUV, and getting really REALLY irritated with the way people drive.  Maybe it’s the onset of summer heat, maybe it’s the proximity of summer and vacations earned and deserved, maybe there are just that many more awful drivers out there these days?  What that does is have me listening to my Sirius / XM radio more than usual.  Yep, that’s me next to you at the red light or train crossing bopping to the music and singing all the words!

So, back to Cher!  One of her songs came on and I believe the title is something along the lines of:  “Do You Believe In Life After Love?”  Hmmmmm??

Suffice to say I’m not currently in love, and it’s been many years since I loved the man I was once married to  –  infidelity will do that to you.  But what is my “life” after love?  Sure, I get up every morning; I go through the motions of being busy.  I have hobbies, lunch with girl friends, occasional non-profit or volunteer activities, babysitting the new grand baby, walks with the dogs, workouts – all things to keep me busy.  That is day to day living, but would I call it a life?

You remember when people used to tell you to “get a life”, if you were complaining or had irritated them?  “Get a life” – is that something I can find at the store, or buy online?  Where do I go to get a life?  How do I go about finding the right “life” after love?  After five and a half years of being divorced (and being alone much longer than that) I’m not really sure what kind of a life I have.

At DRG the other night we were asked what the vision of our life would be in the next five, or ten years.  I had to admit that when I got divorced I had a vision of what I’d be doing five years down the road.  Boy was I wrong.  Nothing that I thought I would be doing has happened, most especially in the category of “relationships”.  Knowing that I missed the mark on the last vision, how am I supposed to answer that for the next vision?

Do you believe in life after love?  I think I do, and even though some have accused me of having a pity party, it’s hard to know where you’re going and where you’re going to find that life.  Would be so easy if I could sit here on my laptop, “google” how to “get a life”, buy it and have it shipped over night.  Don’t think that’s going to happen though so for now I’ll try to conjure up my “vision” for the next five years, focus on how to “get a life” and refrain from ramming some idiot driver who changed lanes into me because he was texting . . .

 

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Life as Mountain Biking – – –

Was in church the other day listening to a guest pastor.  His home church is in Sun Valley, Idaho where it had been 16 degrees on the day he’d left for Houston.  We were enjoying a wonderful spring day of temps in the lowers 70’s.  Didn’t take rocket science to see why he’d pick this time of year for his visit.

He was relaying stories about activities enjoyed by those who live in the mountains and one that I really enjoyed was about his son and mountain biking.  There was something so “DUH” about mountain biking and it’s similarities to divorce that when he said it I quickly grabbed an offering envelope to write it down so I could share it with you.

The statement was so perfect for divorce recovery!  You see, when you’re mountain biking, moving “forward” is essential.  When you’re bumping your way downhill over rough terrain, you simply MUST be moving forward.  Imagine if you’re not moving forward what would happen?  You’ll simply fall over, best case scenario, or tumble off the side of the mountain, definitely worst case.

Isn’t divorce recovery just like negotiating the rocky and slippery terrain of a mountain bike path?  If you’ve never mountain biked, I can tell you it’s one of the most bone jarring activities I’ve ever tried.  You’re perched on a bike that is NOT comfortable, you cannot sit on it, you’re pointing down going (at least if you’re with my sons) at what feels like breakneck speed!  To throw on brakes could cause you to tumble straight up and over the handlebars – not a pretty picture.

There’s a reason mountain bikers where helmets and elbow guards and knee guards, etc.  To fall is messy.  You do not stay still on the path down.  You would either fall over or be run over!  To get down safely you must keep moving forward and then see a chiropractor!  Seriously . . .

So grab your helmet, your shin guards and your Advil and whatever you do – don’t try to just perch on that mountain bike of recovery.  Release the hand brakes holding you in neutral and even though it’a a bumpy ride, the finish line is ahead.

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Are You Running Toward? Or Running Away? – – –

I know that we have all been entranced over the past couple of weeks by the awful bombings at the Boston Marathon.   How could something like this happen?  Will we ever know the full story?  What goes so wrong in a person’s life that they could ever think that killing innocent people is justified?  That however is not why I’m referring to this, because we may never fully comprehend what motivated the perpetrators to do this.

What I was fascinated by was the totally random acts of courage and kindness that were displayed by so many people, not just first responders but by the general public.  I would hope that I would be one of those people running “toward” the fray.  I’m pretty sure I would be.  I’ve been at the scene of an accident before and it’s exactly what I did, I ran toward it to help.

It’s human nature to flee though, and there is absolutely nothing wrong that many people in their confusion and need to survive ran away from the commotion.  It’s the same “flight or fight” that we see in animals, it’s instinct that kicks in and it just happens.  Our ability to reason is also what separates us from the animals.

So in your “post” divorce life, are you running toward your new life or are you running away?  Your instinct may be to huddle up and hide, to run away from recovery, to flee from the pain.  You become the prey and it “preys” upon your mind that you will not get over it and be able to move on.

May I suggest that you need to move toward it?  To get past the heartache and the pain, run toward it and burst through it.  We’ve talked in the past about that rear view mirror.  If you continue to look in it, you will wreck.  Look forward and move forward or be like the good samaritans in Boston and run toward it.   Let today and every day from here forward be about moving “forward”.   Be  your very own personal first responder, we’re right beside you!

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Vulnerability = Trust – – –

I attended a fundraising luncheon last week where the guest speaker was Dr. Brene Brown.  She has spent years researching vulnerability and other aspects of human emotional well being.  It was fascinating listening to her views and her studies but it was her take on our vulnerability that really resonated with me.

http://www.brenebrown.com

I always considered being vulnerable a “weakness” but that’s not really her take on it at all.  It’s what prods us to be brave, to try things that scare us, to make a decision to be strong and that ultimately helps us survive.

Being in a relationship makes us vulnerable.  Being in love makes us vulnerable.  Going through a break-up or a divorce REALLY makes us feel vulnerable because that “mate” was supposed to be there for us in the good times and the bad.  Now we’re all alone and it’s scary.

What makes you feel vulnerable?  For me it’s being alone and totally responsible for myself.  However can I take that and use it as motivation to prove that I really can be strong?  Absolutely.  It has forced me to learn to trust in myself and my decisions.  That trust did not come quickly, but it did come.

Use those feelings of being inadequate to motivate yourself to trust in your strengths.  Prove to your family and friends that you are a strong and capable person who doesn’t need a man to tell you what to do, how to do it and when to do it.  Look at those feelings of vulnerability as a way to learn to trust in yourself again.

Having doubts is normal, but letting them rule your world is not OK.  Be strong, be brave – rock on!!

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When Better Isn’t Bitter – – –

A funny thing happened to me the other day when I was answering an email message by using my iPhone.  Trying to be quick and “21st” century I abbreviated some of the words.  Never assume your abbreviation is read the way you meant it!

In answering a comment about “moving on” from the hurt of divorce and into my new life as a single I remarked that I thought I was still “bttr”, even tho’ there had been some things that had recently irritated me!!  I intended that “bttr” to be read as “better”!   Imagine my surprise when my gal pal fired back a “msg” to me (ok couldn’t resist – that’s “message”) that she didn’t understand why I was still “bitter”?  A bit of a lecture ensued.

I read her reply and went, “. . . huh? . . .”   I had to go back to see if my fat fingers had hit the wrong key?  (I do miss the raised keys of a Blackberry, I never made typing mistakes on the Blackberry!)  I know that when I get going really fast on the iPhone that many times I can hit the wrong letter key because the pads of my thumbs are seemingly too wide for the letters.

How many times have I sent a message where I meant to type “list” and instead sent out the word “lust” since the “u” and “i” are side by side.  I’m sure that’s made for some interesting interpretations of my message!!  But, back to the story . . .

When I scanned my reply, I realized that she had misread the abbreviation.  I clarified, all’s well!  But it does make you think.  Is being bitter ever better?  Do you have to go through a bit of bitter before you can get better?  Yes – plain and simple, it’s natural.  I believe bitter can be better when it drives you to heal and get past the pain, the anguish, the grief of a married life that’s lost and motivates you to realize that you are an OK person without that man in your life.

I also believe that it’s never better to hold onto the bitter, because the only person you’re hurting is yourself and those closest to you who only want to help you get to a better place.  That’s why my sweet friend fired back at me a little lecture, because she wants only the best for me, and to see me through to a better place.  My bitter is getting better every day!  So shall yours if you’ll let it – so start today and be better!

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What A Difference A Few Years Can Make – – –

I was sent this post and had a fun time looking it over.  While many of the things on there I agree with, some of them I will admit to still doing.  Guess that means I’m not quite as “hip” as my children and their friends are but that’s OK.  In some things they’re not near as “cool” as I am either!!

Look these over and see if you agree.  If nothing else, it’s a fun exercise in reminding ourselves just how far and how fast life has progressed and times have changed.  Have we progressed with the times and the technology or are we stuck in the past?  Is this a tiny bit like getting a divorce yet not moving on?  Enjoy these and take some of them with a grain of salt . . .

But you better NEVER stop writing those “hand-written” thank you notes or my Mother will haunt you for the rest of your natural born life!  Just sayin’ . . .

http://mozy.com/blog/infographics/50-things-we-dont-do-anymore-due-to-technology/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Newsletter-Home201302&utm_campaign=Newsletters-Home&ref=36b792db

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Happy Anniversary and a HUGE Heartfelt Thanks – – –

That’s right, it’s been one year since I started this blog and I’m so very grateful for all the support I’ve received during that year.  I know I’m not alone in what I’ve been going through.  I know that I have love and support from others who “get it”.

It was funny, I went back and read the first blog that went out for Valentine’s Day 2012 and things really haven’t changed too terribly much.  It’s another Valentine’s day spent with a TV tray, my DVR and my dogs.  A BFF did send me a beautiful heart-shaped box of chocolates which I have every intention of emptying very soon.  I got to spend time with my new five-week old grand baby – a girl – this morning, a real treat since I’m the mother of sons!  If that doesn’t show you “the real thing”, nothing will.

I’ll stay at home tonight because to go out would just throw me into the middle of “couple-dom” every where you look and I just don’t want to see that on this day about “love”.

So thanks for “following” me and who knows what the next year might bring?

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It’s Not Good Being Lonely – – –

Nope, it really isn’t.  But how do we prevent it when/if we’re alone?  It’s exhausting coming up with ways to entertain yourself other than a TV tray and your DVR!  The need for companionship is paramount in anyone’s life.  Even more so is the need for touch.  So how do we go about making sure we don’t end up alone and lonely every night?

I don’t know about you but I can find things to occupy myself during the day.  If you are a working woman, then your day is beyond full.  If you are not, there are activities out there that you can occupy yourself with whether it’s volunteering, part time work, book clubs, needlework groups, bible studies or church related activities, physical activities such as walking, running or fitness classes.  You can take classes or if you have a particular skill set you can share – teach a class?  It’s almost spring time here, hard to believe since it’s just the first part of February but my trees are budding so how about a gardening project?

Oh, . . . but the nights . . .

Those are the toughest for me.  GF’s suggest meeting for lunch, but then those same GF’s go home to their husbands at night and suddenly they forget that there’s another meal of the day that you might enjoy sharing with people (rather than your dogs!)  We’ve talked about this before, it’s a couple’s world and most especially at night – couples go out with couples.  Why is that?  What are they afraid of?  Or do they just not even think about it?

So what do you do to fill your time?  How do you escape your loneliness?  Would love to hear from you.  In the meantime, I share a link below that talks about emotional wellness because keeping our spirit happy and healthy is just as important as our physical well being.  May all our spirits rise this week!

//www.definebody.com/living/live-to-be-inspired-and-be-inspired-to-live/feed/

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Great Resource in Our Area – – –

A great friend (thanks M.E.) forwarded me this information on an upcoming seminar in the Houston area.  I looked it over and although it’s not something I personally can use right now, it does look like it’s full of good working information if you’re just now entering into the process of getting a divorce.   Realizing that I have not attended it, nor know the persons presenting the information, I still like to share information for you to assess it’s value for your personal situation.  After all, we’re all in this together.

If you ever find information that you think my readers would benefit by, send it through the “comments” section and we’ll get it passed along.  Wishing us all speedy and happy recoveries!

http://www.guidetogooddivorce.com/?page_id=7

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