A decade ago I lost my marriage and farm and nuclear family. My wife at the time decided she wanted a divorce so she could go play. It was overwhelming. I had no dream, no vision, no hope. My life was broken and appeared beyond repair. It took years to rebuild. I had a lot of help from my friends and children during that process. I am not sure I would have made it without them.
The silver lining to this dark cloud of loss is the new, better life it provided. A day of darkness and mourning has become a day of celebration. The children and I were set free to follow our dreams without a harpie at us every step of the way. I should thank my ex for the great gift she has given each of us.
Maybe I will?
Background:
This is for Writing 101. I’m not keeping up very well. I’m rapidly falling behind.
The prompt:
Write about a loss: something (or someone) that was part of your life, and isn’t any more.
This doesn’t need to be a depressing exercise; you can write about that time you lost the three-legged race at a picnic. What’s important is reflecting on this experience and what it meant for you — how it felt, why it happened, and what changed because of it.
Today’s twist: Make today’s post the first in a three-post series.
You only need to write the first post in the series today — we’ll let you know when it’s time to write parts two and three.
See what else I’m doing.
Follow me on twitter: jr cline
My Instagram profile
My Eclectic Life 
Oct 05, 2014 @ 12:16:32
hugs. thanks for sharing this part of you.
Oct 05, 2014 @ 16:22:14
You’re welcome. hugs It was a long time ago and it is why I started blogging originally. That was some depressing stuff to read.
Oct 05, 2014 @ 12:17:25
well written
Oct 05, 2014 @ 16:22:32
Thank you. 😀
Oct 05, 2014 @ 12:22:28
A nicely reflective post, JR — and how timely as you make drastic changes again in your life!
Oct 05, 2014 @ 16:24:06
The last 10 years have been filled with major changes and like you said, here I am poised on the brink of another. 💛
Oct 05, 2014 @ 12:49:12
well said.
Oct 05, 2014 @ 16:24:27
Thank you. 😀
Oct 05, 2014 @ 15:15:31
I have often heard you make allusions to this part of your life, and I admit that I have been curious. Glad things are looking okay for you now, my friend. Hope you are enjoying the freedom.
Oct 05, 2014 @ 16:28:12
I am enjoying my freedom. Often it is to the dismay of others in my life. lol
There were so difficult times and severe depression. I was married 27 years and had been in a relationship with my ex since I was 17. That is a 35ish year partnership.
Oct 05, 2014 @ 17:06:45
Thanks JR for sharing about your life. I was curious about it, but this is the first time I am learning about it. Hugs!!
Sometimes it puzzles me, how a spouse who has been together for such a long time could take off, to have fun. Basically. Sometimes, I find that the world or the society makes it o.k. that a woman should venture and find herself.
Oct 05, 2014 @ 17:38:11
I’m can’t blame it all my ex. Relationships are two way streets. She and I built the end together in some twisted way I’ll probably never understand. The biggest factor was when her hormones changed as menopause came along.
Oct 05, 2014 @ 20:46:13
The decade would have made no sense, had that not happened. What’s important is that you are still here, and have done some good things in ten years time.
Oct 05, 2014 @ 21:53:19
I’m not sure if I’ve done anything good. I’ve done things. The goodness or badness will be determined by others. In the end it will be like I was never here. I’m just another leaf drifting to the ground in the autumn.
Oct 06, 2014 @ 05:32:05
Thank you for sharing this. I could add so much to my comment, but will just say I’ve lived aspects of it and understand.
Yes, you and your children do owe her thanks. Hindsight and present contentment are powerful and rewarding.
Oct 06, 2014 @ 09:43:03
They are powerful and rewarding.
Oct 06, 2014 @ 09:46:55
I like you post about signs. The first time I traveled by train things seemed odd. After about an hour, I figured it out. There were no advertising signs.