Three years ago this week...

[no name no slogan]

It was three years ago this week that my 10-year relationship with my ex-wife came to an end.

It seems like a lifetime ago that we met at the office of a therapist for what was to be our first joint counseling session. I started by saying that, although I knew we had problems, I wanted to work on them and wanted to be a better husband. She responded by saying that she didn't love me anymore, and hadn't loved me in several years, and wanted a divorce. No debate, no discussion, nothing. As far as she was concerned, our 9-year marriage was done.

Needless to say, I was devastated. I'd been having mental health issues right about then (I'd been dealing with clinical depression since I was a kid) and this little incident pushed me over the edge. I voluntarily committed myself to the psych ward for the first time in my 35 years.

This has led to a whole convoluted tangle of events which has resulted in a new diagnosis (bipolar disorder), several different drug regimens, and more stays in the pysch ward (a total of three weeks in 2007 over two different stays).

If not for the divorce, I never would have received the correct diagnosis, and received the proper treatment. I never would have sold my marital house and moved to a part of town that I'd never spent much time in before. I never would have met some of the remarkable people I've had the pleasure of knowing over the past three years. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I may be alone now, but I'm quite okay with that. For the first time in memory, I'm quite happy being on my own, and don't feel any less valuable as a person because I'm not part of a couple. I'm not ruling it out again, but I'm not really looking, either.

I'm not just surviving, I'm thriving. Three years ago, I never would have believed that was possible.

[KitchenWitch]

1. Bittersweet, but I am glad you came through it.

:hug:

[no name no slogan]

4. Thanks KW

Because of this thing, I've now become a St. Paul-ite, so it's not all bad. I can even find my way around, and I'm not even a drunken Irishman, either. :hide:

[Pierre.Suave]

9. From one St Paul-ite to another

:hug:

I am glad you are in a place where you are happy.

[no name no slogan]

12. thanks

I almost made the last MN meetup, but didn't check my email until the day of, an hour after it started. I'll probably make the next, though. :D

[Pierre.Suave]

19. I missed the last one too, due to Mothers Day and all..

I look forward to meeting you soon!

[lost-in-nj]

2. oh hon

I was just asking about you


:hug:.....

your journey sounds remarkable...
and it sounds like your feeling better......

I am making tracks on my divorce journey.....

how are things going???

new music??

so happy to see you.....

:hug:


lost

[no name no slogan]

5. yay lost!

I was hoping I'd see you tonight! I am glad to hear you're making progress on the divorce. I didn't find it to be sad necessarily, but just a giant money-sucking pain in the ass. Damn lawyers.

Things are okay. Busy at work, still adjusting meds, etc., but pretty good. I'm going condo-hunting this weekend, so that should be fun. The market is flooded right now, and there are bargains all over, so maybe I'll get lucky. :D

:hug:

[lost-in-nj]

21. good luck in the condo hunt!!

It defiantly is a buyers market!!!!!!

:hug: :)


lost

[bicentennial_baby]

3. I remember...

:hug:

And I love you. Good job baby, I'm proud of you. :loveya:

[no name no slogan]

6. thanks bi_baby

time flies when you're going crazy, I guess. :)

And I love you too (and sniffa! how's he doing?)

:hug:

[bicentennial_baby]

8. He is well...

Very busy with work, got into a really good school for the Fall. We are well and happy. I'm just swamped with finals for the next week and a half. Boooo!

:hug:

[no name no slogan]

15. Wow, that's great!

that sniffa got into a good school, not the finals part. But I bet you'll kick major butt on those!

[bicentennial_baby]

22. It's a Professional Land Surveyor's program, which

will enable him to take the 2 state tests and get his PLS stamp. Which will increase his income and options muchly. He already has his Bachelor's in Civil Engineering. It's a big awesome step, and I'm SO proud of him. :D

Thank you!! :hug:

Oh, and I got a kickass internship too! PM me if you want to know where ;)

[ThomCat]

7. I hope your life moves in happy directions from here.

:hug:

It sounds like it's been turbulent and unpleasant getting this far, but you got this far. :)

[no name no slogan]

11. thanks ThomCat!

Coming from you that really means a lot :hug:

[crimsonblue]

10. I'm glad you've found happiness and self-peace, man..

:hug:

[no name no slogan]

14. thanks!

It's totally been worth it in most respects.

[fizzgig]

13. i am glad you are where you are with yourself

as cliche as it is, when one door closes, many others open up. i wish you many more years of happiness

[no name no slogan]

16. thanks kagehime

If I had to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat. Even the shitty parts, just so I can get some music out of it. :crazy:

[Deja Q]

17. Thank you for the update!

Glad to hear you're surviving AND thriving!

:pals:

[malta blue]

18. It's nice to see you here.....

:hi:

I treated the ex mr MB in a similar fashion and looking back, I am not proud of what I did.

I am so glad to hear that you have regained your life.

[hippywife]

20. I'm sorry for all the

downs you've had to experience to get to this point, but I'm very relieved to know that you are in a good place right now.

I wish you nothing but happiness and a smooth road ahead. I know there will still be a few pitfalls and potholes ahead, no life is without them, so most of all I wish you the strength, courage, and vision to always overcome.

You're too sweet to deserve anything less. :hug:

[ghostsofgiants]

23. I'm gonna channel Jason Lee in Vanilla Sky here...

Without the sour, the sweet just isn't as sweet.

Glad to hear you're doing well, dude.

[asthmaticeog]

24. Fuckin' great to hear you're doing well.

It's good to know you're coming out on the other side of your troubles, good sir. :thumbsup: