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Divorce/Separation :
Post-Betrayal Positivity

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 erzulie (original poster member #3293) posted at 8:43 PM on Saturday, November 16th, 2013

... stopping in just for a quick minute to say "hi" ...

I haven't seen WH since end of October. Since that time, I have gone away for a week with my dogs, spent some quality time with family and girlfriends, and started back taking care of myself. Gym, eating well.

Had a photo session set up for me and my dogs - a friend who is an amazing photographer. She insisted I get hair and makeup done, wear "slutty heels", etc. Photos turned out amazing ... the perfect ego boost, really.

And, I got an email from my graduate school advisor yesterday, announcing my graduation date and time. Which is exactly six months away! Hit me all of a sudden - my goal is in sight!

I just wanted to stop in - I am in the middle of a demanding class for school, and short on free time, but wanted y'all to know that I am doing great, that there is hope for ALL of us, and that there is life beyond betrayal. I am living proof!

Hugs to everyone ....

[This message edited by erzulie at 2:44 PM, November 16th (Saturday)]

A saying for my SI Family: "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all".

Fooled twice - almost exactly 10 years apart.

posts: 3380   ·   registered: Jan. 27th, 2004   ·   location: California
id 6564393
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Artemisia ( member #40564) posted at 8:50 PM on Saturday, November 16th, 2013

So good to hear, erzulie. I could use some hope today!

How did you DO it? It seems like you're only a little ways out. I'm a bunch more months out than you are and still in plenty of pain (much of it self-induced, admittedly).

Tips???

posts: 117   ·   registered: Sep. 5th, 2013
id 6564401
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Catwoman ( member #1330) posted at 9:21 PM on Saturday, November 16th, 2013

I've been thinking of you a lot Erz, and hoping you're doing well and navigating this ocean of crap we've all been cast upon. I'm glad to hear of your positive attitude, and it's so great that school is coming to an end--you'll be having a new beginning before you know it.

Hugs,

Cat

FBS: Married 20 years, 2 daughters 27 and 24. Divorced by the grace of GOD.
D-Days: 2/23/93; 10/11/97; 3/5/03
Ex & OW Broke up 12-10
"An erection does not count as personal growth."

posts: 33182   ·   registered: Apr. 5th, 2003   ·   location: Ohio
id 6564426
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 erzulie (original poster member #3293) posted at 9:51 PM on Sunday, November 17th, 2013

Artemisia - you asked, how did I do it?

Well ... I don't want to make it all sound over-simplified, because that would only demean people who are struggling. And I also don't want to say in some arrogant fashion that I've somehow mastered it all or that I don't have bad days or weak moments. I am human, truly, and littered with faults and weaknesses without a doubt.

That said - the light came in after I hit a rock bottom point. I had discovered some new information one day, over a month ago, and found myself obsessing over it to the point of sobbing, nausea, the whole nine yards. Inconsolable. In the middle of the night that night ... my senior dog had what I learned later was a very minor seizure. She got up around 2:30 am, walked over to me at the side of the bed, whined, and then fell over, urinated on the floor and trembled. I leapt out of bed, scooped her in my arms and held her close. For about 20 minutes, in the middle of the night, I lay on the floor holding her, thinking the breaths she was taking right then would be her last.

And then, she perked up ... she stood up, sniffed my face, and I just wept. I could not stop thinking how grateful I was that she was holding on - largely, I believe, to be here for me. And how could I not see that? How could I not see that when she looks at me, she sees the most important person in her entire world?

And the daily love affirmations from my father, my mother, my brother, my closest friends, my coworkers, my volunteer comrades, my neighbors ... the list goes on. How could I not see those things - and instead, focus on a man who cast me aside, disregarded all I had to give, and betrayed our marriage? I'm not meaning to say that you define your worth from outside sources, but ... I will say that allowing any part of my life to be defined by someone who clearly didn't value it or me one iota, seemed entirely masochistic all of a sudden.

So, trite as it sounds, I just had that epiphany. At 3 am, after holding my dog and making sure she was okay, tucking her back into her bed ... I just looked at myself in the mirror, and decided to stop.

And it's weird, really - the catharsis that has been for me. Suddenly I feel lighter, happier. I feel in control. I feel grateful. I feel joy. I feel trust, and I feel love.

I've uninvited him from my headspace and my heart, and he's not getting an invite back.

Every day is a gift.

[This message edited by erzulie at 3:52 PM, November 17th (Sunday)]

A saying for my SI Family: "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all".

Fooled twice - almost exactly 10 years apart.

posts: 3380   ·   registered: Jan. 27th, 2004   ·   location: California
id 6565212
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somanyyears ( member #26970) posted at 10:01 PM on Sunday, November 17th, 2013

..

..great story erzulie!

smy

trust no other human- love only your pets. Reconciled I think! Me 77 Her 74 Married 52 yrs. 18 yr LTA with bff/lawyer. Little fucker died at 57.Brain tumour!

posts: 6080   ·   registered: Dec. 29th, 2009   ·   location: Ontario Canada
id 6565221
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KJac ( member #21332) posted at 10:08 PM on Sunday, November 17th, 2013

O.M.G. I needed to see this today. Thank you for posting!! Here I am at my (unbelievably smart and supportive) moms w/my fantastic kids waiting for my "littles" (fabulous nieces n nephews who love their Auntie) to get here so we can have an early Thanksgiving dinner and I'm hiding in the bedroom crying over this loser. I will now open my damn eyes n ENJOY these people in my life who love and care about me. Thanks again.

Me-BS39
Him-WS/STBX41 Last OW/Current GF22
M 17yrs Together 20
Cheated our whole relationship Multiple Ddays, Multiple OW, Multiple EAs and PAs
DS19, TwinDSs18, DD13
DIVORCED 11/14

posts: 328   ·   registered: Oct. 21st, 2008
id 6565225
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PhoenixRising88 ( member #35214) posted at 10:26 PM on Sunday, November 17th, 2013

Wish we had a thumbs-up icon...

Thanks for sharing this!!!

Me: BS(45)Him: EX, aka "The Dink"(52). D-Day#1 12/22/11. D-Day#2 5/23/13. Divorced 1/10/14.

New chapter of my life- married 11/13/15 to the man I'd thought I would never find.

Throw me to the wolves and I'll return leading the pack.

posts: 443   ·   registered: Apr. 2nd, 2012   ·   location: North Texas
id 6565241
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PurpleRose ( member #33129) posted at 2:38 AM on Monday, November 18th, 2013

Once you stop caring about the WS life gets so much easier. Good for you!

divorced the Dooosh 8/13
*****************************
Dance like nobody is watching,
Text and email like it will be used in court someday...

posts: 3871   ·   registered: Aug. 17th, 2011   ·   location: Happyville
id 6565477
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