I’m Karen, 52 years old, and for the past five years, I’ve been single. My marriage ended in divorce, and while society often sees that as a failure, I’ve come to realize it’s anything but. Divorce is not the end of the road; it’s a step towards finding your true happiness. At first, it was hard to see it that way. After all, no one gets married thinking it will end, and for a while, I struggled with the idea that my relationship had “failed.”

But as time passed, I began to understand that it wasn’t a failure—it was a necessary step in my journey. Divorce gave me the opportunity to rediscover who I truly am, outside of the roles of wife and partner. It forced me to confront parts of myself that I had neglected for years. I had spent so long trying to keep the marriage together that I forgot about what I wanted, what made me happy.

The journey wasn’t easy. There were nights of doubt, wondering if I had made the right choice, but slowly, I began to see the beauty in rebuilding my life on my own terms. I no longer had to compromise my desires or put someone else’s needs ahead of my own. I was free to explore new passions, meet new people, and live authentically.

Divorce gave me the space to grow into the woman I always wanted to be. It allowed me to carve out a life that felt truly mine, filled with experiences and choices that reflected my values. I learned that happiness isn’t something you find in another person—it’s something you create for yourself.

Now, at 52, I am happier and more at peace than I ever thought possible. I’ve built a life that feels fulfilling, one that reflects who I am now, not who I was in my marriage. Divorce wasn’t the end; it was the beginning of something beautiful. It was the first step on a path towards my true happiness.