You Can’t Rush Your Learning – Even When You’re Convinced You’re Ready
December 3, 2009 by Amelia
Filed under Evolution, Infidelity, Wisdom Gained, delainemoore
Submitted by Delaine
Over the past year, most of my divorcing friends have found new partners and seemingly established lovely new lives. And I’ve wondered: Why is it taking longer for me? I mean, I crawled and slashed my way out of Rock Bottom, diligently performed my internal housekeeping, and grew and stretched spiritually in so many positive ways. So why, in the grand scheme, was the universe clearly stating I wasn’t ’ready’?
But now, as my second year post-divorce wraps up, I almost have to laugh at my impatience. Only now can I see that I wasn’t ready at all. And it’s a wonderful reminder to me that even when we’re convinced that we want something NOW, there really is a master plan at work, unfolding events at a speed that has our best interest in mind.
Most of ‘Year One’ was a blur to me. Numbness. Sorrow. Grief that came from infidelity and the death of a family dream I’d based my existence upon. Year One was Delaine hanging on for dear life. Surviving. Shielding myself from getting MORE hurt, feeling MORE pain. In some ways, I felt like I’d left my body; I was shell of a Woman. And as much as people told me “this too, shall pass” and “it’ll turn out for the better’, a part of me wanted to scream at them to shove their spiritual pom poms up their you-know-whats. But anger required too much energy; the thought of getting run over by a truck seemed easier.
Dating became my refuge in Year One. I know – a risky and potentially hazardous choice. But dating was exciting. It rubbed my ego. Everywhere I looked, there seemed to be available and interested men. The thrill of rediscovering single life at age 37 contrasted my dark internal world and temporarily elevated me above my pain. I explored. I indulged. I tore down self-imposed rules. And ironically, through dating, new seeds as to who I was and who I might grow into were planted. Maybe I AM a prize worth fighting for, I wondered for the first time ever. I felt beautiful…desirable…stronger… in ways I’d never known before.
As Year One ended, I thought the worst was behind me; I’d made it through hell – nothing thereafter would be as difficult. But I was wrong. Year Two was to be about ‘getting down to the REAL work’ – the stuff that Newly-Separated Delaine hadn’t been able to confront.’ Most surprising was my anger – old anger that I wasn’t even conscious of. I began taking it out on men – any man. Unconsciously I was blaming them for the transgressions of others, and was determined to see them fall flat, want-me but not-have-me, to ridicule the entire male species, and simply not care. This heart will NOT be broken again, I resolved.
I don’t know if my internal chaos caused the ensuing EXternal chaotic circumstances in my life, or vice versa. Regardless, mayhem ensued; I was hit from every angle: extreme poverty, an uninvolved and bully’ish ex, three young kids to look after, an unfinished book deal and struggling career, a pending legal battle that I’d tried to avoid at all costs… And no one to take charge except me.
Year Two has tested me in virtually ever other way that Year One didn’t. And I proudly say, I’ve been humbled, and strengthened, and wizened in ways I never thought possible. I see how potent and dangerous my anger was, and how its suppression was more dangerous still. I’ve learned to fight like a wild animal for what I believe in, yet still allow my Wise and Caring Self to helm my decisions and the ultimate course of my life. I’ve affirmed that my role as Mother is the most deserving and profoundly important role I have. And I’ve learned to grab onto and savor happiness in the many forms it takes, whether it lasts on the timeline for minutes, hours or days.
In my mind’s eye, I see a giant pendulum – a massive, iron pendulum that has been swinging around perilously for the past two years. It represents me – the course of my life, the wide scope and range of my emotions, and the actions that ensued. But now, that pendulum is starting to rest – it has found some homeostasis. I am more balanced. I have more peace. I am more of me. And as I look ahead to Year Three I find myself asking yet AGAIN: Will THIS be the year I am ‘ready’? And I can’t help but laugh at myself - you’d think I’d know by now NOT to be impatient. *grin
Delaine – www.iamdivorcednotdead.com
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What to do? What to do? The kids are with dad & you have time on your hands.
Thank you. I am just ending the first year of being divorced and some days I am still hanging on for dear life. What I do know is that I’ve learned more from the process than I’ve ever learned before. Here’s to the real work ahead…
I have to say, it’s taken a bit longer than I expected (I have goals… sweet, sweet goals) and it didn’t go anyway near what I wanted. I have realized that if I have to ask why I don’t get to have something. Then I’m not ready to have it. And, need to ponder over it some more.
And that only happened when I slowed down. I was so full throttle with changing my life and not be where I was before that I dropped other areas of my life. And when you have the cascading affect of dropping, realizing you need to correct, and then dropping again, you have to just stop and take a breather and rest for a bit. Slowly adding those busy things back into your life.
You will not be able to do this, when the biggest thing in your life just got dropped. So, spend the time needed to regain your mental, physical and emotional strength back.
Lara, I find it’s like what Travis said – you go full throttle to manage and stay on top of the changes without losing your sanity during the first year. But what follows thereafter is a much deeper processing period, where old, unserving parts of you get amputated (which can hurt like hell), while new parts simultaneously go under construction.
There is so much to do to pull ourselves and our lives altogether – or at least, that’s sure been the case for me. Maybe it depends on what kind of marriage you had, how long it was dissolving for, and how bad/smoothly legal issues proceed.
I have one other divorcing girlfriend (Tara) whose journey has been very similar to my own. Last week it was her turn to have a breakdown and ask again: When is enough enough? I reminded her that her transformation ran deeper than many other peoples’ – not that it’s a contest cause pain is pain. But having been belittled by her ex for so long, I think it takes longer to build a backbone and work through that abuse. Sometimes I think we just need to sit in these ugly potholes for awhile when we’re stuck in them again… time does eventually push us out of them. But without a doubt – in reminding my friend, I’m further reminding myself.
Great post! Everyone reacts to divorce differently, but I think the truth is we all might need to go through some of the same steps – especially dating for ego gratification. But happiness comes from within. It takes time to get to know yourself on your own terms, and feel good whether you are coupled up or single. Good for you for having so many great awarenesses. A lot of 2nd marriages end in divorce simply because people didn’t take the time to do introspective work like you are doing now.