SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

So in taking back control of my life from stbxwh, I've become more of the person I was before we married.

And apparently it is showing everywhere, even work.

I don't think they like it.

I don't think I care

I've learned how to deal with abusive, bullying assholes quite well.

Nice side-effect

Yes...once you acquire the strength of dealing with infidelity, it shows in other areas of your life.

Yes! High five, honey.

AWESOME!

Very nice!

I didn't go back to the person I was before I married FWS.

I became the person I wanted to be.

k9

I totally get this.

I, too, am becoming the person I was meant to be. I have found my voice. Even where I am now, in the depths of despair, I am facing fears & smashing them down.

I remember one point during the limbo/false R when I was refusing to be quiet during a fight with my ex. I also was refusing to physically back down & leave the room. He was accustomed to me literally cowering down in fear. Instead, this particular time I drew myself up to my full height and kept on saying what I needed to say. HIs face changed, then he told me that he didn't like who I was becoming, that I'd changed and he didn't recognize me anymore.

I considered that the best compliment he ever, ever gave me.

This has changed me also. I am much more assertive and speak up for myself at work now also.

During false R, I also stood up to "him" for the first time ever. April 21st, the 6 month antiversary of dday #1.

During an argument I stood my ground and said what I needed to say. He beat the crap out of me.

What was I thinking??? I mean by continuing to stay.

Now, I would call 911. I was stronger then but not as strong as I am now and not as strong as I am going to be.

Once you realize how great you look in bitch boots it is hard to take them off

This happened to me too. Except I didn't go back to who I was before the marriage...I became the person I was always meant to be but kinda scared to let loose.

Feels great, doesn't it?!

Great thread!

I am very much an introvert and would always try to be the "good wife"....after Dday I have taken control of my life and do what I've always wanted to do.....I even told OW off when I saw her outside. The old me would never have done that.

I think STBXH is surprised at the person who I have become....but it really does not matter anymore what he thinks!

Great topic Jennifer99 and it's so inspiring to read what others have wrote! I think because stbx and I were together from high school, I was always a part of "we" so I never really evolved as "me". I would have gone along as a part of "we" because that was my normal but now I am taking full advantage of discovering "me". It's scary, exciting and hard work but I love it!

As we get closer to the court date, I need to keep working on my "I don't give a shit" attitude so my codependency doormat attitude doesn't come back out. Oh, you don't want to reimburse me for children's medical expenses, well ... explain that to the judge because I don't give a shit. Oh, you don't have any money, well ... I don't give a shit. You want me to say you are a good dad, well ... I don't give a shit. You want to do this without attorneys, well ... I don't give a shit. You get the picture

It seems many of us have transformed into even more marvelous beings (how is that possible) after betrayal, abuse, and abandonment.

Yeah, I haven't magically transformed into something I've always WANTED to be, just back to what I was. I don't have a lot of goals for being, I am what I am. Except for the decade or dozen or so years I wasn't.

At what freaking point did I decide appeasing this man, taking care of this man, or worrying about what this man thought was so important I gave up me?

The more I get back to "me" the more I realize how much of me was buried...and how much I used to like me. And how much I really don't now!

Yesterday my son started talking about wanting to be a dad. As he shared his details of his "dreams" I remembered being around his age thinking I would NEVER marry but I'd have 2 kids - a boy and a girl - Christopher and Cassandra

I married, I got one boy, and then began the process of living H's life, not mine; killing myself to provide for him while he did nothing for anybody....

OMG I'm so stupid!

But I forgive the Me-of-my-30s (thats what I'm calling it, my delusional years). Now the Me-of-my-40s is getting my girl baby (SO not going with those names from 1980s LOL) and getting my not-married life and MYSELF back.

Now:

I see potential everywhere so I don't have to kiss-a$$ for a job.

I care about how I feel and how I look and want to make an effort to like ME again and can say "f it all" and MAKE the time or spend the $ as *I* want not what HE wants.

I have no time for pita people and have no problem walking away, not even bothering to go through that whole "I should, but I have the power to say no, to actually saying no and feeling like I should give reasons" - now I just internally wonder at how much how MANY people expected of me and how easy it is to just not even join the conversation let alone have to go through the whole "should I or say no" thing.

I am back to my freedom from stuff. When I can make it happen I'm walking away from a 3 bedroom HOUSE of STUFF. I will be taking about 1 room full of stuff.

I bought the car H wanted. Now I'm car shopping all by myself and getting the car *I* want.

I feel free to pursue whatever, wherever, whenever - I don't have to consult anyone about where I look for a new job, where I consider moving to, when I do what or anything else. I do try and include my son just so he feels some power in his unstable little world right now but he's pretty laid back.

All the options, all the freedom, and all the possibilities are a bit overwhelming. Its almost hard to pick, choose, decide. I feel like I did when I was nearing the end of my Bachelors degree right as I was meeting H.

These sort of epiphanies usually happen when I am finally away from home (we're still in house - both looking for our own places). I love vegging at my brother's place every other weekend. Me and my son and niece shop - can I tell you how long its been since I went to a mall and bought something - for ME?! And the kids are like little cheerleaders and conspirators so then I have to pay them off with some shopping for them or a trip to the Target snack bar.

Today I took the time to try on and buy (clearance woot!) nursing cami's and tanks. Why? Because I read they are comfy and convenient and I wanted them. Before there would be no money for such things and I'd make due with what I had until it fell apart so H could buy whatever he wanted without working for it.

I even made an appt for a major dental consultation for all the years H got his mouth taken care of and I didn't - I'm going to get my smile back and when I do I want it to be pretty like it was 12 years ago. And I have the $ to do it because I'm not buying the best and newest in all the gear H ever put on his buy-list.

While H is online flirting and making a gross spectacle of himself on social media and living a fantasy life like I almost wanted to/wished for, I'm meeting nice people IRL and chatting. Can I tell you I've not met one person that wasn't attached to either work, H, or my son's activities in 12 years. In the last 22 days I've met someone to walk with at lunch, I've made a new friend that likes to craft some things I wish I had time to make, and I've made a new friend who makes jewelry and I make her web stuff. None of these people have anything to do with H or ds. Its freaking amazing. Its like I just quit looking down at the ground while running around or quit mentally working on a never-ending to do list from H and Looked UP and voila - people!

I'm blabbing because its late and I'm not tired mentally but my big, pregnant self is aching head to toe and can't move any more today....

Whereas before H's attitude that life was pointless for all the obstacles. And I now feel that despair that I caught from him lifting...when a job lead doesn't pan out, ok, not for me then, next! No more moping and negative thinking that something great is NEVER going to happen but instead feeling like just where I am now is great and there is always potential out there.

Whereas before H made a checklist out of things to own, things to do, and mapped out the life we were supposed to live and set us up for so many disappointments because I could never work enough, make enough $, ever to catch up on his dreams that he didn't want to work for - now I am back to just looking around, appreciating, trying to recognize opportunity and flow that direction but allowing for chance and change and liking it because there is NO checklist.

H's BUSY-ness that I adopted is gone. I have 2 jobs, grad school, and kid stuff while pregnant but now it seems I have all the time in the world to put my feet up, or take time to chat with ds, or take time to pamper myself a little, or stop and enjoy something outside. Just on whims here and there - doesn't have to be planned. Even though life is busy, I don't have to be busy like H HAS to. Its like a fake busy - running around crazy but never accomplishing anything and never enjoying anything.

I want a cookie - I have a cookie. I don't have to worry about the dirty looks, the comments, or any of that from the man who can eat ANYthing and still be perfectly sculpted. I'm not. But I enjoyed my cookie :)

I don't have to sit around and wait and be told to hurry up and be ready and wind up waiting. I just go as *I* flow. And you know what - so does everyone I'm going with. Its as if EVERYONE relaxed after I filed the D papers, not just me.

On this side of the D filing - without any major hitches yet (c'mon and come peacefully June 1st) - I can envision peaceful days including things I WANT to do not have to do.

Then I smile and give thanks that I am the kind of ME now that CAN put one foot in front of the other and make this life happen because I'm pretty sure H isn't and I don't want to be there anymore.

jennifer99, I want to be you when I grow up!! LOL

you go girl!!!