It has been a year.

And it has BEEN. A. YEAR.

One year ago today, I walked out of the courthouse after an anti-climactic final judgment, as a single woman.

“Today I close the door to my past, open the door to my future, take a deep breath and step through to a new life.”

The past year has been filled with adjustments, setbacks, tears and celebrations. But I never lost my joy. I’m bolder and more assertive. I genuinely smile more. I laugh louder and am sometimes inappropriate and petty. I’m more #unfiltered than I’ve been in a long time. I’m learning and continuing to evolve inside of this new life.

Some of the things that I’ve learned…

1. Just because the divorce is final, doesn’t mean everything inside of the decree is complete. There’s still work to be done.

2. Life organization becomes even more essential. Appointments, school, extracurriculars, work, co-parenting, financials. You have to be on top of your game.

3. You might need to find a new set of people. That may be friends and/or professional contacts.

4. Kids are resilient. This almost made me stay married. But my kids didn’t need a perfect parent, they just need a present parent.

5. Helping others heal, helps you heal.

“I learned that it would take more than just the black and white steps of getting divorced, or even finding a lawyer. It would take NOT just facing my fears. It would take walking into my fears — with each step making me bolder and less ashamed, with each step giving me courage.” (Liza Caldwell)

True story.

Cheers.