questions & answers.

I've been pondering posting on this site for a long time now. The podcast has been helpful as I've navigated my marital separation over the past year. I appreciate that Ali and Melisa speak lovingly about their former husbands on their podcast episodes and the painful journeys they went through as their marriages ended. I have found divorce to be super sad and lonely, with lots of highs and lows.

My marriage ended because of my husband's drinking and other habits. We just could not make it work, not because I wanted to marry someone else or pursue anyone else. He's the only person I ever truly felt passionately about, mind, body, and soul. His gender was irrelevant, if that makes sense. I am not ready for dating as I'm still processing and learning so much about myself. That said, if I ever were to explore a relationship again, I don't think I would seek out a relationship with a man. I have always found women attractive, but never had the opportunity to explore a relationship with women.

I retired and moved away from where we lived, so I don't have any close friends in my new location. I have family close by, which is a blessing but can be challenging. I miss the intellectual camaraderie of my primary relationship and also my work friendships.

I'm grateful for my companionships with animals and I would like to cultivate friendships with fellow animal lovers who are likewise going through the changes of life -- asking all the questions we begin to ask ourselves as we look back on the first 50 years: Who am I? What am I? Where would I like to go in the future?

So that's why I'm posting. I just want a place where I can ask these questions and maybe hear some hopeful words from those who have gone before me and can tell me this gets better. This part is just really hard - grieving the old life and not quite sure where the new one is headed.

Thanks for listening!