I’m a recent divorcee from a marriage of 5 years, now a single mother to a 3 year old daughter, and a woman just trying to heal some emotional wounds. I suppose no one really begins a marriage with the intent that one day things will end up this way, and I’m sure the list of reasons can go on a mile long. But after it’s all said and done, for me anyway, it’s more than just about surviving the divorce. For me, it’s about facing the reality of the wounds that were created from decisions of both parties and finding some sort of acceptance. It’s about finding peace in knowing that I did all that I could do and it still wasn’t enough to make a square peg fit into a round hole.

I’m not exactly sure how it works, but, somehow, instinctively I know that in order for me to deal with it, I need to face it head on. It seems logical to me that if I shelf it, I’ll just have to deal with it later. In the meantime leaving me with bitterness and resentment — baggage that will no doubt haunt me and any future relationships that I might have (romantic, mother-child, or otherwise). The healing process for me is more than just a temporary band-aid where there is a risk of it falling off at some inopportune time. I’m on the path of making my heart whole again, most likely with a scar. But as with all scars, you still have the memory of what happened, but somehow not the sting.

So I press on with the strength of my family, my friends, and the love of my daughter. And somewhere along the way, I’ll find the strength and courage inside of me that I never knew was there. Or so I’m told.

Angela Richelle

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For those who know a little about photography, here is my EXIF data for this shot:
Nikon D300, 50mm f/1.2
ISO 400
Aperture f/1.2
Exposure 1/80