I married my college sweetheart and built hopes and dreams on a foundation of family, friends, and career. Sixteen years and two children later, I was faced with infidelity and an end to the life I knew. My life exploded. All the pieces went up in the air and came down in every direction.

It felt like nothing would ever be the same and I would never feel normal or happy, again.

I was in shock and heartbroken at first, then the other difficult emotions followed.

Divorce isn’t a predictable process. It doesn’t necessarily go in a straight line from point A to B. I was frustrated because every step I took forward, I took several steps back. Everything seemed to take so much time, yet I felt suspended in time. My emotions were in a spin cycle, my self-confidence shattered, and the decisions I had to make were overwhelming.

Three years before my marriage ended, I left my job to stay home with my young daughters, and to build a new career. In what seemed like overnight, I went from stability to chaos. I found myself having to make gut-wrenching decisions about my career, finances, parenting, and housing. I asked myself repeatedly when it would all end.

Then I reminded myself that it took 16 years to build my foundation, it wasn’t going to take 16 minutes to reassemble a new one.

Though the process of recreating my life continued with successes and failures, I healed, grew, and with the right support am now living a wonderful and fulfilling life!